Sunday 26 September 2004 . . . . . .

  • Right - this chappie knew exactly where he was going! Probably from one side of Loch Lomond to the other - here is the story.
  • How do we "cope" in the wilderness? Just what should we do if we need the loo? And should we really make our own sculptures in the wild? What about washing - ourselves and our pots? For thoughts and suggestions on these and other thought-provoking issues on our use of the wild spaces, click here!

 

  • RNLI has been active again, certainly in Scotland. A couple of rescues in the Forth and elsewhere. They have also produced a DVD on water safety - free from RNLI on 0800 328 0600 and contains some stuff of use to us kayakers. A donation to them would be nice.

 

  • And of course Sean's back and ends his phenomenal trip!

 

  • If you'd like your club included in the Almanac / Clubs section, or a mention of an event added here, mail me the details. If you run courses (especially for newcomers to the sport) and would like to be included in the Almanac / Centres section, please contact me as well.

 

 

 
A mink on a mission - click for the story

Above - a mink on a mission on Loch Lomond.

 
Click to go to Sean's site
Above - Sean Morley - can this guy paddle or what! Well done.

 

Monday 20 September 2004 . . . . . .

  • Right - from Westword, the community magazine for the Mallaig area, comes this fantastic picture of a humpback whale seen in the waters off Mallaig this summer! Wow! The September issue has the full story and also details of what seems to be an active local kayaking group.
  • Hamish Haswell-Smith's latest edition of "Scottish Islands" can be ordered via the UKRGB link to Amazon.
  • The Scottish Canoe Association is producing a monthly Touring Newsletter. Worth signing up for. There are still a few trips on the 2004 Touring Calendar - the Etive trip in December is usually a good, fun outing! They are also preparing a guide to Scotland's touring waters, "to compliment the very successful Scottish Whitewater Guide. This publication will focus on lowland touring rivers, canals and inland lochs".
  • I've added a new section to the Almanac to give a summary of tidal info and weather forecasts all in one location. I'd welcome any other ideas for things people might find useful - how about a Float Plan, a Packing Checklist, any other ideas? Mail me at editor@ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk with suggestions or better still, any exisiting material you already have!
  • There are some new links in the VHF / GPS section of the Almanac as well!
  • Here's a link to Jean Paul Bichard's new kayaking website – he says "it is turning into a photo diary and includes an account and pics from our recent Stockholm archipelago expedition ending in the Stockholm Canoe Marathon – we have pics and stories from our various kayaking adventures on both sea and white water – hope you enjoy them"


  • If you'd like your club included in the Almanac / Clubs section, or a mention of an event added here, mail me the details. If you've found any interesting articles or links on the web, mail them to me as well and I'll include them.

Click the pic to go to Westword

Thursday 9 September 2004 . . . . . . .

Right - I had a pleasant wee trip round the West coast of Jura at Easter in the company of some friends - the story is here with a few nice pics and a tale of myth and legend about the Hag, Breakan and the Corryvreckan! Enjoy.

•Sean Morley is nearing the end of his astonishing Round Britain & Ireland paddle - scheduled to end 12pm 26 September at Falmouth Maritime Museum - go see his site, view the pics and perhaps make a donation via Paypal or Credit Card.

•One of the first reports of the 2004 Cwm Pennant festival is on Paddle Log.com - "a Novice Sea Kayakers Log Book" - he may be a novice, but he writes a good write-up and also has some grand pics as well as other reports including paddling in Ireland. Worth a look. Thanks "Luke".

•The Sea & Surf forum is busy - a couple of GPS discussions to please the techies, ideas for paddling Welsh waters and suggestions for sea BA's to name but a few.

•Your contribution to the site is welcome - any of the usual methods will get it to me - details here.

Tim Dawson eyes a potential camp spot on Jura

Saturday 4 September 2004 . . . . . . .

Yet more inspiration for places to paddle to be found in Mark's glorious picture album from his Brittany trip this summer, just before heading for Costa Rica. Nice.

Right - Sauvage of Belle Ille.

Boats for Sale - Summer must be nearly over as there are quite a few sea boats for sale in the For Sale / Wanted section of the Community Forum. Want a Nordkapp, Bahiya, Orca, Easky or Capella? There are ads for all of them! For Scottish viewers, there are a few on the SCA site's forum as well. There's a Klepper Double for sale on the South East Sea Kayakers forum.

Stolen Boat! - Been offered a black Romany sea-kayak at a suspiciously good price? Might be this one.

Friday 3 September 2004 . . . . . .

Is anyone climbing mountains still, or has everyone transferred to sea-kayaking? Simon Willis is another "convert" and his story makes a good read! (First published in TGO - you get to read the full version here on UKSKGB.)

For ideas on "traditional" kayaking techniques, the Qujaq USA site has lots of detail on rolling, Greenland Paddle construction and a wonderful on-line Newsletter. Enjoy.

Right - try capsizing that one then! Fancy putting a sail rig on a sea-kayak? There are a few new links in the Boats & Equipment section of the Almanac.

Share your trips & stories of paddling this summer using the form or mail the sea section editor. Photos are very welcome. You can also mail news, articles or anything else of general sea-paddling interest if you'd like it posted here.

Coming soon - - - - - - - -

Mark is back from his travels - pics from his sea paddling adventures soon!

West Coast of Jura and tales of Myth and Folklore - Easter trip to Jura and the Corry - to follow shortly.

 

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