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Leading a Second Saturday paddle with DCKC is made more testing if the forecasters don’t agree with each other and all keep changing their minds about what we should expect on the day. The club paddle on 10th January was a case in point. Living in Perthshire we had had temperatures of minus 8c, snow, rain, fog and rain turning to black ice in the week preceding the event but the forecast for Erskine on BBC and XC was consistently “fine” with temperatures hovering just above zero. So, on the Thursday before, Ronnie and I decided to let our trip from Boden Boo car park to Dumbarton go ahead. By Friday night ten of us had packed ready for an early start, the days being short, but then the forecast changed to snow, freezing temperatures and fog with light winds. Being keen to get out onto the water, we decided to go ahead. On Saturday morning we awoke in the dark...

The Craic'n: January 2025 Editor’s Welcome Belated Happy New Year to you all and welcome to the first Craic'n of the year. 2025 has already given us plenty of un-paddleable weather, first the snow then the wind, with all four seasons in between. Included in this edition is a summary of a few weather apps for kayaking and other water sports to help us decide where and when to go out on the water. It is good to know that a good-sized group of hardy souls braved the cold and made the most of the window between the two weather events for the January’s Second Saturday Paddle. This time it was to Inchcailloch for the postponed Mince-Pie Paddle. - Were there even any pies left over from Christmas festivities for the event 🤣 But a good opportunity for trying out some of Santa’s gifts. Not a mince pie in sight! The committee are still working on trips and events for the coming year, these will include night...

Name?Joanne Durnan (17)  How long have you been a club member?I have been a member since October 2021 Where do you stay?Clydebank  What made you start kayaking?I started kayaking very briefly with the sea cadets and really enjoyed it leading me to join the club  What do you enjoy about the sport?I love the challenge of kayaking and learning new skills. I also love being on the water and so kayaking is an ideal sport for me. Is it different to what you expected?It's very different. When I joined I honestly thought you could only paddle in one type of boat and only in straight lines! Now I know there's different types and loads of different skills to learn  Where all have you been kayaking?I've been kayaking on Loch Lomond, the Clyde and the canal.  What's been your favorite trip so far and why?The Inchcailloch trip - it was beautiful weather and we had a BBQ when we got there. It was also a...

AKA the Shetland Trip Revised Shetland was the trip that we just couldn’t pull off this year. We had cancelled in June as the winds were consistently F5 and above and we cancelled again in September with a similar weather picture. Misha and Alan were moving on with Plan B before we got together ahead of departure and our best window was West Coast near Skye and fingers crossed out to the the Small Isles. By then, we were grateful to be getting away at all. We all signed up and swallowed hard our disappointment. Bev, Danny, Graham, Joe, Leigh and I were the rest of the crew. We met at the campsite at Ardleve on Loch Alsh in the evening prior to the launch, half of us coming direct from work, arriving late that night. Day 1 Kyleakin to Eilean a’Mhuineil, Loch Hourn 33km We broke camp in the morning and regrouped on the shore at Kyleakin. A posse of drivers set...

Name? Alex  (15) How long have you been a club member? 4 years  Where do you stay? Milngavie  What made you start kayaking or canoeing? My dad What do you enjoy about the sport? It's challenging  Where all have you been kayaking? Loch Lomond, Loch Ard, Lake of Menteith, River Tay, and near Bergen in Norway What’s been your favorite trip so far and why? River Tay Have trips gone to plan? Yes What is your most memorable “oh shit” moment? Capsizing in huge whitewater on the Tay What’s the one kayak skill you’d like to learn? Tail slicing and play-boating  What’s been the most challenging trip you’ve been on? River Tay...

Name? Geoff Nisbet (30) Where do you stay?  Crieff What made you start kayaking/canoeing?  A group of us got an "introduction to sea kayaking" gift voucher experience for a day on Loch Lomond. I was hooked instantly and knew it was for me. A few weeks later I found a sea kayak for sale on Gumtree and I haven't looked back since.  My dad, Danny, followed suit and bought a kayak at the same time. We initially paddled mainly on Loch Lomond and then dabbled with a few saltwater lochs. The best thing we did was join DCKC where we developed our skills and have been fortunate enough to go on so many incredible trips.  What do you enjoy about the sport? I love the adventure. I like loading my kayak with all my supplies and heading off on a journey where you can reach and explore places that otherwise wouldn't be possible. Is it different to what you expected? Not really – I have always enjoyed sports such...

Name?Janice Gow How long have you been a member of the club?Goodness , I've been a club member for 17 years! Where do you stay?I stay in Scotstoun. What made you start kayaking or canoeing?I was with my son who came along to club nights in the old Playdrome when he was 9yrs. We went to a Mince Pie Paddle and I couldn't paddle at all. I ended up in an open canoe with Sandy, who said, ' aye you're no much good at this either '. And I have never let him forget that!  What do you enjoy about the sport?I love getting to see beautiful places and kayaking allows us to visit so many of them. I enjoy challenging trips too, much more since I've improved my skills. Is it different to what you expected?I think DCKC is a very special club. I have had wonderful training within the club. Been on amazing trips. I have loved it since I joined. I have made...

Name?Matt Mears (39) How long have you been a club member?Club member 4 years Where do you stay ? I live in Renfrew What made you start kayaking or canoeing?Started kayaking as a different way of  seeing countries whilst travelling  What do you enjoy about the sport?I enjoy the places/cultures you get to see from being on a river and the mental side of the sport e.g overcoming nervousness by attempting a rapid/river you were initially apprehensive about and the feeling of accomplishment from doing it.  Is it different to what you expected?I  didn't realise how much you had to keep your skills current when paddling. You can't just take months off then expect to step back into it at the same level you were paddling before  Where all have you been kayaking?I have kayaked in UK, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia What’s been your favorite trip so far and why?Favourite trip would be kayaking the Kali Sarda on the border of Nepal and...

Name?Celia Gray How long have you been a club member?I’ve been a member of the club for around 6 years Where do you stay?I live in Strathaven South Lanarkshire What made you start kayaking or canoeing?My first time in a sea kayak was when I was cycling to Applecross and had a half day's introduction to sea kayaking. I loved it and was instantly hooked! I love being able to access areas with my kayak that you couldn’t get to normally i.e. caves, and small secluded beaches. I also love the wildlife having had amazing opportunities to see sea eagles, shear waters, dolphins, minkie whale, otters and more recently I seen an Orca up close! What do you enjoy about the sport?Kayaking can offer very different experiences. One minute you can be paddling along enjoying the view, the next being tossed around on a confused sea. The challenges it brings are immense and always keep you alert and...

NameStewart Rattray (38) How long have you been a club member 2 years Where do you stay ? East Dunbartonshire What made you start kayaking or canoeing? So I’m a returnee to kayaking and canoeing … I came back to it after a long time away.  We had kayaks and canoes and sailing dinghies as kids - my father was a keen boater but I stopped ~17/18. I came back to kayaking in the autumn of Covid during the periods of limited movement simply because it was one of the few things we were still allowed to do. I was very lucky to get landed with Sandy Johnston as a coach who quickly put me to work (there was a LOT of work to do!). It went from there. What do you enjoy about the sport? I like to be challenged and I need some excitement to get my kicks. Whitewater paddling gives me that.  Big & scary or sedate & calm .. you make Kayaking into whatever...

Andrew enjoying some evening sunshine on DCKC's 'Introduction to Expeditioning' trip to Lismore Name Andrew MacColl, 53 Where do you stay? Denny What made you start kayaking/ Canoeing? After a kayak excursion in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, realising that it would be good way of interacting with Scottish lochs rather than just driving past them. What do you enjoy about the sport? Getting to see places in a more connected, up close and personal way. Is it different to what you expected?! It pushes me beyond my comfort zone. In the words of Dr. Seuss: “When something bad happens [Stonehaven] you have three choices: you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” Where all have you been kayaking? All over Scotland including Barra, St Kilda, Skye and Orkney. And further afield including Anglesey, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Sardinia, Fuerteventura, Greece, British Columbia, the Galapagos and Antarctica. What's been your favourite trip so far? British Columbia because it was during orca and humpback whale...

We are offering a number of items of equipment for sale to members. These are items that were generously donated to the club by retiring kayakers (some of whom weren't club members but were looking for a good home). Most items donated have become part of the club equipment for all members however some items weren't quite right for club equipment. All funds will go towards club activities, helping coaches and trip leaders with their training and key safety equipment. Items for sale include dry bags, BA's, dry tops, v-bars for roof racks and more. We are proposing to do as a mini-auction and are able to take maximum bids in advance. Please email graham (graham.m.swanson@gmail.com ) with the item(s) you are interested in. We aim to have items that people might want to try on available at the June 28th Loch Lomond session. Closing bids by 5pm Monday 4th July! Important: The equipment is only for sale to club members - please do...