Hi all,
Just got back from a weekend canoeing on Lock lomond and inchconnachan as our base camp. Its going to be very hard to put into words how beautiful, magical and amazing this place is....but ill try lol
We arrived friday morning to meet my brother who works in scotland
with our kit in dry bags and strapped to our selves. This was a little strange for me as i am used to my bergen as i know where everything lives in it etc The weather was cloudy and a little misty as we loaded up the canoe with enough kit for the weekend for 3 people , then loaded our selves of course which was a little wobbly as we are no experts.
On the paddle over to our base camp i was quickly finding muscles in my shoulders that i dont think even doctors have names for The scenery on the way over was out of this world with mountains disappearing then re-appearing in the mist and clouds.
Once we arrived at our camp for the weekend my heart was almost thumping out of my chest as it was one of the most beautiful sites i have seen including my time foreign traveling. The beach was filled with quartz and pebbles and the water was crystal clear for as deep as light would allow. There was also a reed bed on the opposit island and loads of broad leaf trees that were just stunning.
We threw up our tarps and the small tent for our 3rd man who we could not talk into spending the night bivvying but each to their own lol. The first task was to go find some fire wood as light was failing fast. My self and my uncle went for a wonder and low an behold within few minutes we saw what we though was a deer running for cover be couldnt of been sure as the light was deminishing. The whole island is covered in spagman moss and fern with uprooted trees everywhere probably due to both the weather and the poor footings.
Well as a far as bush craft skill went on the first night it was a little embarrising as in the excitement we did not collect enough tinder and the damp weather did not make it any easier so we had to resort to using some paper . In the end we did manage to get it lit and get warm plus crack open a beer or 3. Food was rat packs which as usual were hot/wet and quite nice.
The next morning we awoke to a mist that had turned the loch into a mystical yet exciting feeling place "applogies for the poor decription but it was undescribable" After a brew i decided to go for a wonder alone to collect some wood and just for a wonder I was walking thorugh the woods and it was misty and silent then out of no where about 15 yards from me i saw somthing move and upon focusing i saw a large white stag who just stared straight back at me for a minute . This was a moment i will never forget for as long as i live as its my fist wild stag sighting. I would like to think i tracked him as i did follow his prints through the mud (easy to see thanks to time of year) but i think it was mainly luck .
Almost too excited to eat but we had to so bacon butties on an open fire it was and lashings of fresh coffee. After some food we decided to pack a small bag as well as emergency throw bags and go for a paddle round the island which by the way was much easier with out the added weight . We stopped off to go hunting for more wild life (photo hunting btw lol) only to come across a wallaby sat on his nest if they do such a thing Having seen them whilst traveling in australia i was a little shocked to see one there especially looking so FAT and healthy.
Right i fear i may be boring a lot of you so if anyone wants more ill extend another time
Just got back from a weekend canoeing on Lock lomond and inchconnachan as our base camp. Its going to be very hard to put into words how beautiful, magical and amazing this place is....but ill try lol
We arrived friday morning to meet my brother who works in scotland
with our kit in dry bags and strapped to our selves. This was a little strange for me as i am used to my bergen as i know where everything lives in it etc The weather was cloudy and a little misty as we loaded up the canoe with enough kit for the weekend for 3 people , then loaded our selves of course which was a little wobbly as we are no experts. On the paddle over to our base camp i was quickly finding muscles in my shoulders that i dont think even doctors have names for
The scenery on the way over was out of this world with mountains disappearing then re-appearing in the mist and clouds.Once we arrived at our camp for the weekend my heart was almost thumping out of my chest as it was one of the most beautiful sites i have seen including my time foreign traveling. The beach was filled with quartz and pebbles and the water was crystal clear for as deep as light would allow. There was also a reed bed on the opposit island and loads of broad leaf trees that were just stunning.
We threw up our tarps and the small tent for our 3rd man who we could not talk into spending the night bivvying but each to their own
lol. The first task was to go find some fire wood as light was failing fast. My self and my uncle went for a wonder and low an behold within few minutes we saw what we though was a deer running for cover be couldnt of been sure as the light was deminishing. The whole island is covered in spagman moss and fern with uprooted trees everywhere probably due to both the weather and the poor footings. Well as a far as bush craft skill went on the first night it was a little embarrising as in the excitement we did not collect enough tinder and the damp weather did not make it any easier so we had to resort to using some paper
. In the end we did manage to get it lit and get warm plus crack open a beer or 3. Food was rat packs which as usual were hot/wet and quite nice. The next morning we awoke to a mist that had turned the loch into a mystical yet exciting feeling place "applogies for the poor decription but it was undescribable" After a brew i decided to go for a wonder alone to collect some wood and just for a wonder
I was walking thorugh the woods and it was misty and silent then out of no where about 15 yards from me i saw somthing move and upon focusing i saw a large white stag who just stared straight back at me for a minute . This was a moment i will never forget for as long as i live as its my fist wild stag sighting. I would like to think i tracked him as i did follow his prints through the mud (easy to see thanks to time of year) but i think it was mainly luck .
Almost too excited to eat but we had to so bacon butties on an open fire it was and lashings of fresh coffee
. After some food we decided to pack a small bag as well as emergency throw bags and go for a paddle round the island which by the way was much easier with out the added weight . We stopped off to go hunting for more wild life (photo hunting btw lol) only to come across a wallaby sat on his nest if they do such a thing Having seen them whilst traveling in australia i was a little shocked to see one there especially looking so FAT and healthy.
Right i fear i may be boring a lot of you so if anyone wants more ill extend another time
