ROCKHAGGIS

Just back from three days out at sea, testing myself and the equipment!

My first boot camp went well. Many things unforeseen came to light which can now be rectified or changed before I set off for real. Some major changes there will be too!!

But first, the trip; Set off from my usual point, near the Kerrera Ferry slip, and got my usual ear-ache from the 'knobhead' ferryman about using his ( McDougall Estates ) private slip. Having floundered some what on my right to roam speel , he starts on the Health and Safety pitch ... “ Well you wouldn't expect to be allowed to use the 'CalMac' Ferry slip in Oban now would you ?!....” ,this from a skipper who's middle name is 'Johnny Walker'... anyway after winding him up and then totally ignoring him I set off up the Kerrera sound, north, heading for my first target stop point at Tralee bay. The weather was perfect, clear blue sky, warm sun and a gentle northerly breeze to help me on my way. The miles passed effortlessly by and I soon found my self passing the Castle and the Marine laboratories at Dunstaffnage. However looking at my GPS I saw that I had actually only being traveling at 3 to 3.5 miles an hour – Not good!

From this point I could see my destination for the first day. A headland about a mile and a half across open water on my forward port side as the crow flies. And there in lies the problem I will be encountering quite often.... I have restricted my self to staying with 50mts or so of the shore, so being unable to head directly for that point I am forced to follow the coast anticlockwise all the way round the bay... so instead of 10 to 15 minutes direct, I had to paddle for another 3 to 4hours to get to Camp-One. However the temptation, I know will sometimes become overpowering, to go the direct route and that could lead to serious dangers. Solo, unsupported in cold tidal rough waters, far from shore, is not a good place to be, I can tell you from experience..... IS definitely NOT a good place to be !!!

Any way....

Follow up:

Anyway eventually I got to first base, a narrow pebbled cutting into the craggy cliffed shoreline around the point. It was quite an effort to unload the kayak and cart the equipment up to the top of the landing area and set up camp. This time I utilised both tents, the small one to enclose and protect the stores and equipment, leaving the main tent reasonably empty and spacious for me to spread out in. The cooking equipment, in particular the pot cosy – worked a treat, saving loads of gas. The solar panel hooked up and began doing its stuff and I even managed to locate a small fresh water trickle coming form the peat bog just above the camp site.

No doubt one of many sunsets to come - but still a nice view after a long and tiring day!

From which I drew water to test my travel-tap water filtering system. Again, having not suffered any ill effects from the filtered water, I guess it works too. Although the tent was at an angle and on moist ground, I managed to get a reasonable first nights sleep, thanks in good part to my Gelert Xtreme Lite self inflating mattress. A simple idea using modern technology to give the impression your lying on a four inch thick foam mattress – amazing bit of gear and so compact and light. Definitely recommend it!

The following morning was spent – tinkering, paddling around the base camp testing things and doing some roll overs and escapes! Cold and wet – but still sunny ! One thing that became apparent was how much energy I was using, or lacking. My discipline of eating at the appointed times was out the window and even once I had topped up I began to realise that many days and weeks of this, whilst having positive effects health/weight wise, would leave me very weary, given that the rations are probably at the lower end of what is ideal. Anyway another issue to address!

Long shadows as the evening draws in - Boot camp two erected!

I headed back towards Oban in the afternoon hoping to make it to BarBQ beach on Kerrera by nightfall to set up Camp 2, but I misjudged the weather slightly and got waylaid by high winds that caught me coming back along the cliffs at Ganavan... ...managed a wet beach landing and waited there till the winds died down a bit. By the time I got going again it was obvious that I was not going to make Kerrera by nightfall, so I sought a new spot en route.

Mr Bill - 30 feet from my tent he patrolled, what a chap!

The headland just south of Ganavan offered an nice vista which I shared with 'Mr Bill' the swan, who kindly game me permission to share his spot and spent the night on guard for me. A good nights rest and a quick break up of camp saw me on my way back to the slip in good time the next morning.

A nice glow to drift off to sleep to ..... :)

Overall things had gone well – equipment wise I learnt a few things that might need adjusting or changing, but things were good . Me however I'm not so sure about. I enjoyed the trip immensely, but as far as the intended challenge ahead goes – I think I must sit down and do some detailed risk analysis and decide whether or not the route planned is to long and arduous to meet the aims and intentions of the undertaking. I will post more on this matter asap – but as you may have already noticed by changes in the Blog texts and web pages, at the time of writing this, I have already decided to make major cuts in the length of the journey.

I hope though that it will still remain enough of a challenge to inspire other folk in a similar position to myself not to give in to the 'your on the scrap heap' mentality that is so easily attached.

Maybe next year with some others and a bigger budget, I might be able to take on the full Monty!

All for now my bloger friends!