MACRIHANISH: NOT JUST FOR SURFING......

Last weekend saw a load of folk from GUCC head to Macrihanish for some drinking/surfing. However, on Friday it rained, so two of us headed off to find some unexplored creeks.

We ended up on the Inverneil Burn, between Tarbert and Lochgilphead. A brilliant run, although a bit of a mission (1st descent?). Great if you have a sense of adventure........ It can be summed up in three words: Steep, trees, fun!

Thanks to Gary for getting out of bed to come boating.

PS: has anyone else done this, or the lower section flowing into the loch? There's falls in them there hills!

A SPLASH OF WATER

After weeks of waiting, some water finally fell during the weekend, enabling me to get out boating at last!

Saturday looked more promising, and the word went out that some fun was to be had. Surprisingly, only Gary turned up in the morning, and soon headed home as he sounded like he was about to cough up a lung!

So I was on my own, and headed up north in search of water and paddlers. (NB: I'm not encouraging anyone to paddle on their own unless they accept all the risks involved).I arrrived at the Etive, which was at a lovely medium level. I jumped on, and had a great blast, meeting up with a group from Kirkintilloch who provided lots of amusement.

Next up was a solo down the Nevis.



Brilliant fun, although I walked my nemesis rapid (Dave's hole) and a couple of others. Despite it being dry during the day, the level was spot on, and I just had time for two runs down the Mad mile section. Great!

Sunday was forecast to be a bit colder, but there was still enough water for a play. First up was the Allt Gleann a Chaolais. It was a really nice level for the folk who hadn't done it, and much fun was had, including several backwards runs of crucial drops, and a set of snapped paddles.......

















Hopefully it rains again soon!

EXCELLENT SERVICE

After a long break to finish off my lab work for my PhD (and help organise the Wet West Paddlefest, I'm back boating in earnest. However, after a few seasons of abuse, some of my kit finally died. This was compounded by a recent rip to the Etive, where I ended up cutting my precious throwline to free it from Crack of Dawn...... gutted!

However, after a phone call to Nookie, some shiny new kit arrived the next day. I rang at lunchtime, and my shiny new stuff arrived at eleven the next day.

Thanks Nookie: brilliant service as usual!