Scottish Sunshine Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The forecast wasn't good and enthusiasm was low after 2 days canoeing in less than perfect weather on Skye. But did we really want to drive for 10 hours back to Wales without dipping a seapaddle into the ocean with the beautiful Scottish mountains behind us? No!

On Monday night, after a hearty pub meal, we started driving south and reached the outskirts of Oban just after midnight. We would brave the cold, muggy, miserable drizzle that was due and paddle to our hearts content!

Next morning there was no drumming of rain on the roof of the van, and something bright found its way in through the curtain. Sunshine! What a welcome surprise! After a supermarket cooked breakfast and a catch up with Colin, we drove down to Arduaine for a wonderful calm sunny day on the water. The day started off brilliantly as we saw 2 otters, almost perfectly camoflaged, playing amongst the brown seaweed. I even managed to film one of them looking right at me from between 2 brown fronds, thinking he was invisible!

BARRY IN THE GREY DOGS

We headed across the fast flowing sound of Luing, to the even faster flowing "Grey Dogs" tidal race. We could hear the water rushing over shallow rocks long before we could hear it, and I made sure my map and hat were secure! The current must have been 6 knots as it grabbed us and threw us through the channel. The waves weren't that big as there wasn't much swell but we had fun surfing some a few waves at the back of the race. We had lunch on a beautiful beach on Lunga before heading north around Luing and back to Arduaine. A gorgeous day in such a beautiful place..... until the next time!!