I hardly managed any overnight trips last year and so far this year had a total of zero under my belt. So with a bit of concerted planning I managed to arrange time for a two night trip with Russ (Warthog1981) and my new Rotty pup Sam.
The original plan was to go to Loch Eck but as if often the case a change of plan resulted in a trip to Loch Lomond instead. The destination being Creinch a great island for a camp with little traffic and lots of wildlife.
So here we are ready for the off at Balmaha. Russ had not been away for a while so there was an element of overpacking although really not as much as we thought.
The level of the loch was high. When we paddled across to Inchcailoch the jetty for the ferry was underwater.
We went round the north side of Inchcialloch and then the north side of Torrinch too. The crossing from Torrinch to Creinch was a little bumpy but with a well loaded canoe it was never going to be a problem.
One of the questions on the trip is how Sam would be on her first camping trip. she is only 4 months old and a very settled pup as well as being pretty obedient. However, as we were setting up camp it was clear that Sam was set to take this all in her stride.
One thing I have not mentioned is that I noticed that SotP had gone down before we left and among the paddling and setting up I was constantly on my phone chasing the host to reboot the server. It was well on in the day before this was eventually done.
Once the tarps were up and we were sheltered from the wind and the showers the important business of getting the fire lit and dinner on became the next priority. As is traditional the first night's dinner was haggis and mash.
After dinner we had time for a bit of a wander round the island before it got dark. The island has quite sparse ground cover an a lot of dead standing. There are also a lot of deer which we saw but never managed to photograph this time.
One of the reasons that we changed the planned destination was that both Russ and I had been ill earlier in the week. I was still not close to 100% so went to my hammock as soon as it was dark. I did not get to sleep for a few hours as I was chatting etc but it was so good to relax and unwind. this is what I had been missing.
While in my hammock there was some maths went on in my head. I have lost about over two and a half stone in weight during the last six months. Sam currently weights about 12kg which is a little under 2 stone so.....
The morning was as relaxed as the evening with no rush to get up. Eventually hunger took over and it was time to get the Lorne sausage on.
As I say Sam is pretty obedient already and mastering the sit command. Soon I hope to even have her so she will sit on the ground
The row of islands of which we were on one are situated on the highland fault. So on one side of the island we were in the highlands and the other the lowlands. The islands show this geology with large parts of the island made up of "pudding rock" formations. If you did not know better you would be wondering what all this concrete had been for.
We had a go at a group shot before the morning paddle. Taken on the phone so forgive the quality.
We planned to paddle back to Torrinch where there is a stand of bamboo. Russ wanted to get some to make a tension tray. we took a slight detour via bird poo island
The weather was ideal for a paddle. Light winds and sunshine.
We were greeted at Torrinch by some Canada geese who were around in large numbers.
Torrinch like Creinch was thick with fungi and Russ got pictures of loads of different sorts. Much to Sam's interest.
Torrinch is quite different in feel to Creinch with much thicker ground cover so much harder going to cross the island. By the time we had been to the bamboo stand and back Sam was all tuckered out and Russ and I were ready for lunch.
Of course when we got back to the canoe we had a really strong wind coming right at us with very large waves. the canoe was of course now all but empty so we did bounce over the waves and take on a little water. Not surprisingly I have no pictures of this part of the trip.
Of course we made it back with no great mishaps and got lunch on of beans and smoked sausage.
This was followed by an attempt to make chocolate raisin cake in a frying pan. It was not bad but could have done with being thinner. A lid would have helped.
After lunch we decided to do a lap of the island following the coast. We found the skeleton of a deer that had probably fallen from one of the rocky outcrops.
Certainly not much eating left in it.
We had been pretty fortunate with the weather. It had poured down at times during the night but during the day it was mostly sunny with light showers passing through.
Three quarters of the way round there was a small beach which was catching the last of the sunshine so we stopped here for a sit and chill. This was after we discovered the one place on the island where it is possible to land larger craft and as such gets some use from fishermen. It was the only part of the island with any rubbish. Fishing line, cans, pants, socks, plastic bottles and all sorts of garbage. It really annoys me but did highlight how little rubbish was on the rest of the island.
Back at camp both Russ and Sam assumed their standard positions.
Another go at a group shot. By this time i am fully relaxed and know I should be making far more time for these trips away.
In the morning it was flat calm. I took a picture as evidence in the sure and certain knowledge it would not be this way when we were leaving.
Again a group shot at breakfast.
There was a mink trap at the point of the island but the tray for the tracks had been washed out. Sam decided she would claim it as her own.
Too soon the canoe was packed and it was time to go. As you can see it was no longer flat calm.
in saying that it was still far from borderline conditions and the crossings between islands were nothing to worry about.
At the side of the islands and out of the wind it was beautiful. The sun was out and the water calm. In these conditions you just don't want to leave but sadly we had used up our time.
Back at Balmaha we loaded up and headed home. It was a great trip and so good to be back out again. We already have at least a one night trip slotted in for late October so hopefully this can be the start of more regular trips again.
The original plan was to go to Loch Eck but as if often the case a change of plan resulted in a trip to Loch Lomond instead. The destination being Creinch a great island for a camp with little traffic and lots of wildlife.
So here we are ready for the off at Balmaha. Russ had not been away for a while so there was an element of overpacking although really not as much as we thought.
The level of the loch was high. When we paddled across to Inchcailoch the jetty for the ferry was underwater.
We went round the north side of Inchcialloch and then the north side of Torrinch too. The crossing from Torrinch to Creinch was a little bumpy but with a well loaded canoe it was never going to be a problem.
One of the questions on the trip is how Sam would be on her first camping trip. she is only 4 months old and a very settled pup as well as being pretty obedient. However, as we were setting up camp it was clear that Sam was set to take this all in her stride.
One thing I have not mentioned is that I noticed that SotP had gone down before we left and among the paddling and setting up I was constantly on my phone chasing the host to reboot the server. It was well on in the day before this was eventually done.
Once the tarps were up and we were sheltered from the wind and the showers the important business of getting the fire lit and dinner on became the next priority. As is traditional the first night's dinner was haggis and mash.
After dinner we had time for a bit of a wander round the island before it got dark. The island has quite sparse ground cover an a lot of dead standing. There are also a lot of deer which we saw but never managed to photograph this time.
One of the reasons that we changed the planned destination was that both Russ and I had been ill earlier in the week. I was still not close to 100% so went to my hammock as soon as it was dark. I did not get to sleep for a few hours as I was chatting etc but it was so good to relax and unwind. this is what I had been missing.
While in my hammock there was some maths went on in my head. I have lost about over two and a half stone in weight during the last six months. Sam currently weights about 12kg which is a little under 2 stone so.....
The morning was as relaxed as the evening with no rush to get up. Eventually hunger took over and it was time to get the Lorne sausage on.
As I say Sam is pretty obedient already and mastering the sit command. Soon I hope to even have her so she will sit on the ground
The row of islands of which we were on one are situated on the highland fault. So on one side of the island we were in the highlands and the other the lowlands. The islands show this geology with large parts of the island made up of "pudding rock" formations. If you did not know better you would be wondering what all this concrete had been for.
We had a go at a group shot before the morning paddle. Taken on the phone so forgive the quality.
We planned to paddle back to Torrinch where there is a stand of bamboo. Russ wanted to get some to make a tension tray. we took a slight detour via bird poo island
The weather was ideal for a paddle. Light winds and sunshine.
We were greeted at Torrinch by some Canada geese who were around in large numbers.
Torrinch like Creinch was thick with fungi and Russ got pictures of loads of different sorts. Much to Sam's interest.
Torrinch is quite different in feel to Creinch with much thicker ground cover so much harder going to cross the island. By the time we had been to the bamboo stand and back Sam was all tuckered out and Russ and I were ready for lunch.
Of course when we got back to the canoe we had a really strong wind coming right at us with very large waves. the canoe was of course now all but empty so we did bounce over the waves and take on a little water. Not surprisingly I have no pictures of this part of the trip.
Of course we made it back with no great mishaps and got lunch on of beans and smoked sausage.
This was followed by an attempt to make chocolate raisin cake in a frying pan. It was not bad but could have done with being thinner. A lid would have helped.
After lunch we decided to do a lap of the island following the coast. We found the skeleton of a deer that had probably fallen from one of the rocky outcrops.
Certainly not much eating left in it.
We had been pretty fortunate with the weather. It had poured down at times during the night but during the day it was mostly sunny with light showers passing through.
Three quarters of the way round there was a small beach which was catching the last of the sunshine so we stopped here for a sit and chill. This was after we discovered the one place on the island where it is possible to land larger craft and as such gets some use from fishermen. It was the only part of the island with any rubbish. Fishing line, cans, pants, socks, plastic bottles and all sorts of garbage. It really annoys me but did highlight how little rubbish was on the rest of the island.
Back at camp both Russ and Sam assumed their standard positions.
Another go at a group shot. By this time i am fully relaxed and know I should be making far more time for these trips away.
In the morning it was flat calm. I took a picture as evidence in the sure and certain knowledge it would not be this way when we were leaving.
Again a group shot at breakfast.
There was a mink trap at the point of the island but the tray for the tracks had been washed out. Sam decided she would claim it as her own.
Too soon the canoe was packed and it was time to go. As you can see it was no longer flat calm.
in saying that it was still far from borderline conditions and the crossings between islands were nothing to worry about.
At the side of the islands and out of the wind it was beautiful. The sun was out and the water calm. In these conditions you just don't want to leave but sadly we had used up our time.
Back at Balmaha we loaded up and headed home. It was a great trip and so good to be back out again. We already have at least a one night trip slotted in for late October so hopefully this can be the start of more regular trips again.
