ROCKHAGGIS

 

Clearly Im no Anne Frank diarist!

The days from Oich till now are sort of jotted below. I think the main problem is my choice of lappy. I should have stolen ( borrowed) my daughter Justine's. Its one of those small notebook types with far lower power demands. I've just not been able to power this one up enough to keep a regular diary and blog. Lesson learnt for next time! Anyway ...........................

Day 19 Chilled out at picnic area – The Well of the Seven Heads Store– interesting place . Apparently many moons ago a chieftain sort justice for the killing of two kinsmen. On obtaining a 'warrant' he sent forth his posse who found and beheaded the seven culprits. They then brought the heads back to the chieftain to collect their reward – stopping at this well to clean the heads for easy identification! The well is underground near the shop. Definitely worth a stop to resupply if your touring the area.

 

Day 20 Set off to complete loch Oich – didn't take too long – then a stretch of canals and gates until fort Augustus- very pretty place – fish and chips – set off into Loch Ness – immediately weather changed - hard NE straight down loch – angry sky –

 

 

got forced back onto beach at southern end! Made camp!

 

 

Day21 set of early – but soon weather got up again – Loch Ness black as a sharks eye as cold as a sharks heart.

 

 

Lonely – forced ashore several times – cold – eventually made it about half way – power-station bay – made camp – met old weight lifter chap.

 

 

Day22 again set off early – passed canoe group – made the end of Ness buy about lunch –

 

 

wide canal into Inverness – pretty. Started to piss down as I portaged – miserable – getting late buy the time crossed the last canal gate and railway – got into sea via oiley bay – no idea where to go – headed en route – through narrows and bridge – tired – hungry – cold – wet – miserable – no where to land – kept on going. Eventually stopped in horses field – farmer lady very nice.

Cold wet camp and night – set off fairly early – but not early enough! No sooner had I made the headland that was protecting me – than it through up a hooli – forced to beach amongst the flotsam and jetsam of the sea on a a rocky and inhospitable shore –

 

 

weather lasted all day – ran out of water – had to trek several miles back over the hills to a farm house for resupply. Made camp on edge of high tide mark.

From here could see the finish point ahead – frustrating .

 

Day23 – Set off in the wee hours – night time paddle to beat the rising morning winds – pretty sunrise – after a few hours – I made it to Fortrose as the first sun brushed over the town – only the point to navigate – started to get tricky as I got into the currents near the point and light house. Round I went – great sense of relief – could see the camp site in the distance – big swell made the last couple of miles interesting.

Had to land with big waves crashing on the shore from the swell – got wet – kayak full of water – but I was so early no one up at camp to see – lol..... great sense of relief – time to chill – mote later.

 

Ha – so my kit arrived – about midday – staff chap helped cart it to my pitch – pulled my other two tents down in anticipation of an easy big tent erection – FFS – wind – fucking wind – never tried to put it up in a stiff breeze before – nearly wrecked the tent – bent a pole – now sat 10 past 6 waiting for the wind to die – tent at half mast – sitting here looking a right fking prat – two chaps have offered to help - hopefully wont be too long – storm proof – better fucking well be ! Bollocks!

 

Four days on - I haven't moved much - the toilets the shop my camp bed and this chair - nice .....................................

PS adding pics etc as the mood takes me ... init!