View Full Version : First trip out in the new canoe
Took a sneaky trip up to Loch Lomond on Sunday to give my new boat it's maiden voyage.
Put in at Aldochlay and set off round the south end of Inchtavannach, as I came round the corner into the big water things got a bit scary with big 4ft swells breaking and gusts almost tipping me out. Hence the reason I've no photos of the trip out.
Camp for the night. You can see how strong the wind was pressing against my tarp. It even snapped one of my placcy tents pegs I've been using since I was about 12 years old.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00890.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00891.jpg
View from my hammock
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00892.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00893.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00894.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00896.jpg
By about 4 o'clock the wind had dropped completely so I went back out for a play again.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00897.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00898.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00899.jpg
As the light dropped I got a text message to say a few guys from SOTP were on their way round.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00900.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00901.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00902.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00903.jpg
We had company for the whole night with this little guy sitting within arms reach of us munching on Stu's mediterranean tomato biscuits.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00905.jpg
I really am going to have to convince SWMBO that we NEED a canoe.
Looks like you had a great time - thanks for sharing.
Simon
scrogger
07-04-2009, 16:01
Looks like a good trip Rich did you get my pm ref my chuffin client!!!!!
Sounds like I would have had fun paddling the old sevvy against winds and swell like that.
Still it looked great and I was gutted to miss the trip ill be up for the next one for def.
Andy
Looks like a good trip Rich did you get my pm ref my chuffin client!!!!!
Andy
LOL
Yeah I did mate, I hope you give him a hard time when you see him.
We'd have probably taken the easier route round the north end if you'd come, saying that my Sevy did okay in the wind considering.
andybysea
07-04-2009, 16:26
Rich, great pics, pic 8 is a nice scenic shot pity those bouy's are in it.No luck with the wind again! at least there doesnt look like theres a down pour to go with it.
Mesquite
07-04-2009, 16:30
Looks like a great trip out there Shewie, thanks for sharing :)
Got to ask the question though..... is that a wallaby? Only reason I ask is because the picture is very blurred but from what I can make out the stance seems to indicate it
We had company for the whole night with this little guy sitting within arms reach of us munching on Stu's mediterranean tomato biscuits.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd291/Shewie01/DSC00905.jpg
Scots_Charles_River
07-04-2009, 16:32
Glad you got the boat wet. For such a windy day, just drop your tarp/hammock lower down ?
Nick
Looks like a great trip out there Shewie, thanks for sharing :)
Got to ask the question though..... is that a wallaby? Only reason I ask is because the picture is very blurred but from what I can make out the stance seems to indicate it
Yes it is Steve, there's loads of them on there. I didn't believe it myself until I went there the first time. They do normally hop off when they see you but this guy made his way down to our camp and settled with us for the night.
Glad you got the boat wet. For such a windy day, just drop your tarp/hammock lower down ?
Nick
I probably would've done Nick come nightfall but the wind dropped completely in the end.
andybysea
07-04-2009, 18:46
Out of curiosity,seeing as this thread is about canoe camping, how hard/or easy is it to right them if worse came to happen and you capsized? and how easy is it to get back in?
The reason i ask is because i had a two seater angler sit on top (for messing about on the coast) and before we took it out properly we practised capsizing and righting(righting not a problem getting back in without tipping again abit tricky) and getting back in and it wasnt as easy as i thought it would be, (we wore wetsuits and bouyancy aids) and a sit on top sits alot lower in the water than a canoe and wearing wetsuits we were'nt as affected by the cold?
Scots_Charles_River
07-04-2009, 18:49
Try www.songofthepaddle.co.uk for endless discussions about this (self rescue). The cold, even in summer is the problem. Where they were paddling it's normally a few hundred metres swim, unless an offshore wind is blowing, swim back.
Basically fit airbags/blocks and take care !
Nick
Great pics and post, my canoe fund is about to be used up seeing as my wifes expecting, oh well one day.
All the best.
Matt Weir
07-04-2009, 20:10
Nice pics Rich - looks lovely.
Congrats Si ;o)
SimonM said:
I really am going to have to convince SWMBO that we NEED a canoe.
and when you've done so, could you please post a tutorial?:)
Cheers for comments guys
No shots of me paddling unfortunately although I think there will be some on SOTP eventually.
Got to try out the new Honey stove by cooking some chinese pork ribs with rice and mushrooms. Found some dead oak to use for embers as the pine I'd brought with me was just burning too hot to cook on.
Can't wait for the next one :D
Great pics and post, my canoe fund is about to be used up seeing as my wifes expecting, oh well one day.
All the best.
Congrats Simon :35:
Glad to see you got your boat.
Soloman.
Great pics and post, my canoe fund is about to be used up seeing as my wifes expecting, oh well one day.
All the best.
If you had the funds mate you definately won't have the time:D :red: :red:
East Coaster
08-04-2009, 01:28
Nice pics shewie, looks like you had a good one. And interesting company:D
I'm hoping to get into canoeing at some point as well.
My sea kayak does fine on the lochs but would be no use for river travel.
I also like the fact you can get soooo much more gear in a canoe to make life that wee bit more comfortable:beerchug:
Great photos - and sounds like you're enjoying your new canoe immensely.. :)
jabbadahut
08-04-2009, 22:57
I really am going to have to convince SWMBO that we NEED a canoe.
Simon
Let me know how you fared with the other half, if it was successful i will try it and if it wasnt successful at least i can try something else to get my canoe!!
Those photos really instill what its all about, i have a trip in may and after seeing your post i really really cant wait!
wallabies too ! i wonder how they got there???
somebodies pet that they no longer wanted maybe???
Improviser
08-04-2009, 23:17
[QUOTE=SOAR;523360]Great pics and post, my canoe fund is about to be used up seeing as my wifes expecting, oh well one day.
i can relate to that mate im in the same boat (pardon the pun) g/f expecting due in november, me & the bro in law goin on since xmas bout buying a second hand canoe and sundries.
As she has not a clue about this if we dont dive in soon she will put me on a lead & give me spending money outa my wages!! :lmao:
Glad to see you made it back up Rich - good pics and a good trip out by the sound of it. :D
Grooveski
10-04-2009, 21:31
Nice one. Sounds like you had your work cut out from the off. :D
You don't say what you thought of the boat. Did you scratch it? Did you think "pointy corracle" at any point? Did you even notice it on the drive?
That tipping out thing in the tailwind is bad. It doesn't surf worth a damn. The Pack's a funny wee beastie but I hope it suits you. Try edging(sooner rather than later - it really likes it) and c-strokes and good luck getting back into it. ;)
By the way, I measured this paddle and it's 8½'.
Popped a couple of 360 photos (http://www.panoramicearth.com/4167/Loch_Lomond/Inchconnachan) onto Panoramic Earth, one from the last time you were there.
John Fenna
10-04-2009, 21:47
Your canoe is WAY too shiney!
You must get it out as often as you can to cure this problem - running shallow rapids while carrying full camping gear helps. I would recommend the stretches of the Spey above Avimore for this.
As to deep water rescue with a boat full of kit there are realy only 2 options - 1 - tether everything on a long line,and rescue as per normal before pulling all the kit back to you or - 2 - Lash everything in tight so that the boat does not fill up with water....
Air bags are essential kit!
Self rescue far from shore can be a real problem but - as I have proven to myself - is not impossible......a drybag full of kit lashed to one end of your canoe-pole with the other lashed to your centre thwart can make a good outrigger to give stability for a reentry of a swamped boat and during the bailing......a drysuit realy helps keep you warm when you are doing this!
I knew a bloke who carried divers flippers on this boat...he was not much good at self rescues and figured they would help him swim his boat to shore if he capsized on open water.....
Your canoe is WAY too shiney!
You must get it out as often as you can to cure this problem - running shallow rapids while carrying full camping gear helps. I would recommend the stretches of the Spey above Avimore for this.
No, I wouldn't want to hurt poor Precious
Well not yet anyway :D
Nice pics, look like a great trip.
Had to scroll up to see where you were when I saw the wallaby....................... ...........
Did I miss that part of history class where it says "Australian settlers discovered a large island off the coast of Europe and introduced many species....??????"
rancid badger
14-04-2009, 23:09
I was in two minds about the Pack, I paddled one the other week, it was kitted out with a low slung, plastic seat; 'The Angler' model. It was pants to paddle, as you couldn't really sit properly or kneel in the boat.
I'm glad I had second thought's though, I picked up a bargain last Sunday!
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x125/stalch/sotp/P4130074copy-pack3rd.jpg
The boat is a dream to paddle, completely different to the one I tried out, although exactly the same hull.
It's largely thanks to Shewie, that I decided to go for it, very inspirational;)
Cheers all:)
Steve