Well what a weekend I had, My paddling has suffered recently with a lack of trips out, The result being my shonky roll is getting even worse. It has been a while since I have been on the river and the last trip out was at the start of July. So with the paddle fest fast approaching and nobody to paddle with I was Billy no mates until some kind souls on the www.ukriversguidebook.com forum took pity on a lonely swimmer and offered a paddle for me to grab. A big thanks to the guys from the Stirling canoe club www.stirlingcanoeclub.info/ who gave me a shout and let me join them on the water.  I had a great time and hope I will meet you guys on the water again.

So with the weekend approaching the paddling gremlins had a go at me and nearly had me calling off. Having puked up on Thursday evening and spending all day Friday and a bit of Saturday staying closer to the shitter for the fear of filling my boots!! However Saturday morning arrived and after half a dozen movements off I set to head for Inver Moriston where the hardcore paddlers would be showing me a mere grade 3 paddler how its done. A few stop offs on the road down for more movements until I finally appeared to be firming up and looking ok to fart without a worry made me a happy chappy. I arrived at Inver Moriston and parked up and took a wonder along with my camera and took a few shots at the falls.

I had correctly judged that this river was out of my skill level and I was safer on the bank. Or was I a badly placed foot whist negotiating my way to the edge of the river saw me sliding down the hill on my arse and elbows until I managed to grab a tree just short of the edge !! There was me not even paddling and I nearly had my first swim. What a plonker. Looking at the rapid below I think I would of been minced had i land in it. At least there were paddlers at the bottom should my body parts of needed removal from the river.

 

Time to head to the upper section for a few more pictures and to make some fantasy lines in my head. Most involved lining up at the top getting spat over and then having a rocky nasty swim again I was glad my kayak was firmly strapped to the roof of my car. No near swims this time and a few nice pictures taken and I had the pleasure of watching 3 guys jump in at the top of a rapid and swimming front crawl the whole way down.!!!

 

What was I worried about it was easy. LOL!!!!

 Enough time was spent at the river and I was getting Hungry so off to Fort William I went and found the Nevis Centre where the party was going to start off. Once found my next mission was to find a chippy. Easily done and well fed I set off to find a campsite! nearest was miles away and was about £12 for the night stuff that I though I will camp rough somewhere. A decision was made not to drink just in case the dreaded trotts came back for Sunday!! The thought of having to rapidly exit my dry trousers and have to hide behind a tree at a busy riverside was not a nice thought. So I went to the pub and had 1 pint and then phoned the wife to ensure the kids were in bed sleeping and all was well back in the homeland of Caithness. Shortly after I received a call from Gavin (g man) announcing they were heading to the Nevis centre and then another call from Wullie (council dog) asking where it was. They arrive shorty ad we went to the party which turned out to be a full blown student stylee 70s night with a mama funk styled theme. What had I let myself in for. Folk arrived with all sorts of funky affros and mullets flares and pink shades. Some even in leotards and tights. (that was just the blokes) A good crack was had and some folk were having too much of a good time. I cannot imagine that they would mange much paddling on the Sunday. Although some might of needed a dip in the river to wash off the paint.

Late on I decided to head away to find a spot to camp for the night and set off in may car. On arriving at the big round about a police car going the other way did a full circuit and followed me out of Fort Bill for 15 miles before they stopped and did a 3 point turn a headed back the other way. Maybe they spyed the Kayak on my roof and thought I would be pissed because pretty much everyone else was by that time of night. I decide that I had traveled so far I may as well go the whole way to the river and sleep at the get out. When I arrived I couldnt pitch the tent as the ground was so rocky so I slept in the car!! Not a lot of room in a saxo but I was that tired I soon dozed off. I was awoken in the morning by the sound of a van arriving It was the Guy that Owns Stirling Canoes setting up his gazebo for the day ahead. So up I got and extracted the handbrake lever from my back and went for a walk. The river was low as the release had not started yet  so away I went to find somewhere fro breakfast and a dump. The local petrol station fitted the bill so a cheese and ham sandwich and a fresh orange set me up for the day. Things were firm on the other front so things were looking up Back to the river and a leisurely get ready as the river started to rise. Soon enough the boys arrived and we shuttled up to the top for the first run. A few wobbles ensued making me wonder if I had ever paddled before. Man how quickly the skills fail!! Any way a fairly leisurely run down and 2 swims later we were at the bottom. Anyone got a self righting mechanism send me an email Please.

 
Back up for another go and this time I felt much better and even managed to assist others that took a swim!! (makes a change) I felt a lot better and happier on the water. If only I could paddle something like this every week I feel as if I would progress much better with my paddling and who knows maybe one day I will be up to the mighty River Moriston.

All too soon it was time to head North to get home. Now this is where a wheel bearing on the car went and the brakes nearly packed in but thats another story all together. I hope that this event will be on again next year and I hope I can go. I also hope that the Stirling guys will let me join them again if I am stuck and I hope I find a shop that sells bombproof rolls!