The off season.

I've been quiet recently, a situation that's been due to a few factors. Christmas was spent with family in Yorkshire. I had intended taking my bike and doing some cycling but the forecast was for terrible weather so I didn't bother (in the event there were some lovely days so it was an opportunity missed). I've already mentioned the weather but that has been a big factor in itself, it's been awful! Finally work has got in the way a bit. I'm very lucky in that my job usually doesn't intrude on my free time but there have been a few issues recently leading to me working some extra shifts.
Last week I finally broke my 2014 duck and got out for a short paddle in my canoe on Loch Lomond. The water levels were really high from the recent downpours as I left Aldochlay .

I've recently acquired a new bent shaft paddle (thanks Rambo) to use with my open canoe and this was my first time using it, first impressions were positive as I headed over towards Inchtavannach island. I also had a new kneeling saddle to try out. I've been contemplating changing my paddling position in the Pal for a while and had wondered about fitting a kneeling thwart or an angled kneeling seat as alternatives but in the end a removable saddle seemed like the most versatile option which would still allow me a good seating option for sailing as well (with the saddle removed). Anyway first impressions were once again good, the saddle providing an nice stable, powerful and comfortable paddling position.
As I paddled through the narrows the high water level was once more apparent, the end of the promontory that usually extends from Inchtavannach to form one bank had become an island!

I paddled on around the corner past more flooded ground towards our usual camp spot on Inchconnachan.

On landing for lunch it became obvious that it was just as well I wasn't planning to camp, most of our camping ground was submerged and there was barely enough dry land to fit a tent!

While eating lunch I took a couple of photos of the new bits. First the paddle (a Bending Branches Sun Shadow 14, very pretty!)

......and the Aiguille Stingray kneeling saddle.

After lunch I decided to try sailing. The wind was light and variable but it's been a while so I was keen to give it a go. I decided to sail round the southern end of Inchmoan in the hope of picking up a steadier breeze.

 In the event it wasn't much different but I enjoyed a nice gentle reach towards the Geggles.

The usually shallow water in the Geggles had turned into a wide channel as I turned north along the edge of Inchcruin and paddle sailed back across past Inchconnachan and Inchtavannach to Aldochlay and my waiting van. It was nice to get out in the canoe and try out the new toys, more soon with any luck.

Loch Awe and the Lower Orchy.

 A few weeks ago when Sean and I joined Graeme to paddle on Loch Ba (http://jurassic-chris.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/loch-ba.html ) I watched Graeme tackle a few sections of moving water in his canoe and it sparked my curiosity to have a try myself. Fast forward a week and Graeme and I met up at the car park for Kilchurn castle on Loch Awe. We quickly transferred my canoe to Graeme's car then (leaving my car at the castle) drove up to Dalmally. We offloaded the boats, got geared up and ready to get on the water.

The lower Orchy from Dalmally down has no serious rapids on it (in contrast to higher up the river) but has a few riffles that would provide me with a taste of moving water and the current would give us a nice helping hand down the river.

Despite the relatively easy state of the river it was more than enough to let me know that I have much to learn about paddling on moving water. The canoe seemed to assume a life of it's own at times and it felt similar to trying to control it while paddling in windy conditions. Still it was great fun and we fairly speeded downriver through beautiful surroundings.

 Lower down the river widened and the flow reduced, a sure sign we were approaching Loch Awe. The views of the mountains which were dusted with snow were absolutely fantastic.

I stopped off briefly at the car park as we passed and collected my sailing rig just in case the wind picked up (although it wasn't forecast) then we paddled on to Loch Awe.

 Once on the loch we could turn round and admire Kilchurn castle in all it's wintry glory.

Then it was on towards the distant islands that we planned to visit.

First stop was at Fraoch Eilean for a bite to eat and a look at the castle remains.

 Next it was a short paddle across to the Black Isles and Inishail.

 

We'd been looking forward to landing on Inishail to see the ancient chapel remains and graveyard which has some really old gravestones and is the final resting place of some of the Dukes of Argyll. 

 The day was wearing on so we pushed on towards the south eastern shore to paddle back that way and look at a couple of crannogs that were marked on the map. The late afternoon light and gathering mist made for an atmospheric return journey.

Eventually Kilchurn castle came back into view, good news as we were both feeling tired and the daylight was fading fast.

We paddled up the river the short distance to the car park where we used my car to recover Graeme's from Dalmally before loading up and heading for home.