Firth of Forth Sea Kayak Training – 11th February 2017

By Rab Burns Comment Closed
Another Saturday morning where I’m up at the crack of dawn to pack up all my paddling gear and get my boat sorted. A quick pit-stop at the petrol station – the car is fuelled and I have the morning coffee in hand. As I’m driving through to Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry I’m hit with rain…..howling winds…..heavier rain…..and then sleet. Then I think about Rab’s prediction of force 5-7 winds and that familiar thought pops into my head, why am I doing this again!?!?! When I arrive at Port Edgar the rain is off and Rab puts a smile all our faces by announcing the first task of the day is to have a brew and a warm breakfast. We then spent the next hour or so talking through the process for planning a trip and discussing the things we’d need to consider. I think we also challenged Rab to keep us all on point, it’s amazing how many things...
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Lomond Night Paddle. Fri. 10 Feb.

By Rab Burns Comment Closed
This time under clear skies and a huge full moon, seven of us, Rab, Iain, Jim Edmonds, Katy, Dave Ross, Alan and Danny, set off from Balmaha on one of Rab's now famous night paddles. Ten minutes on the water before our night vision took over, then to the right of Inchcaillach and a paddle over to the northern string of islands and back down through the Narrows. No owls calling on this one, unlike on the previous trip. Most of the way was eerily calm and it is always a little disconcerting how different familiar stretches look in the dark. Dave had passed around little cyalume sticks for the boats, but it was still easy to lose sight of each other - except for Alan who seemed to be reading War and Peace by red light, although I'm sure he'll claim he was only checking the map! The upper reaches of Ben Lomond and the hills to north and west were...
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