Paddle Log

Just as the weather improves, and just as I've entered a sea-kayaking paradise, it's time to bring the trip to a close. I need a fe...

Launched in sunshine and gusty conditions, with the promise of more wind to come, and doubled back to Craogh Haven to get a phone signal and...

Launched under grey skies, with a stiff southerly breeze and following seas. Passed ahead of an incoming CalMac ferry at the entrance to W...

I woke to the spasms of the tent on this windswept site. The wind is in the south, and might just about be OK for paddling, but it's no...

The forecast was for W4-5 backing S3-4, so I struck camp and set off. Neil, one of my neighbours on the campsite, helped with the return of...

"Aye, wat a night! Ah've been comin' here since Ah wuz a wee kiddie, an' Ah cannae remember a night like it." It had...

Today dawned bright and sunny, with a gentle F3-4 south-easterly - perfect for rounding the Mull and heading north to Machrihanish before th...

Up at 0400 to catch the southbound tide and still allow time to visit the post office in Campbeltown, where I hope to collect a set of tent ...

I just need these westerlies to abate, for the open crossing onto the Mull of Kintyre. Meanwhile, socialising with a most congenial set of ...

The wind is still not settled, but this is as good as it will get for the next few days. The south side of Arran shows more evidence of that...

The expected wind arrived overnight: a southerly that was forecast to reach up to F8, but in reality probably never exceeded F6. It didn...

A short open crossing to Arran, in pleasant sunshine and a F3 southerly, marred only by the strong suspicion that my VHF handset has develop...

A slight novelty: it's a pleasant enough day for paddling, so why am I pleading weather? Well, looking ahead, there's a vicious lit...

I slept through my alarm this morning, and by the time I awoke it was a simple decision to spend the day ashore attending to chores. Paddle...

It was a leisurely start to the day, a midday departure being dictated by the start of the ebb tidal stream off Portpatrick. However, I was...