ALLT NA H-EILDE

Last weekend saw us head up the west coast again in search of some water. Despite the Falloch and the Cononish looking low, we eventually made our way to the Leven. From the bridge at the bottom, it looked like a good level, so we shouldered our boats....

On the way up, we passed the Allt na h-Eilde, which flows in above End of the World. This is mentioned in the Scottish guidebook, but it is unclear how much has been run. I've had my eye on the last two drops for ages, but this weekend was the first time we'd had the camera kit for this (thanks Tom!).

After a long slog uphill, John and I had a bit of a scout and decided the top drop was good to go. The drop itself is probably 50ft high and about 70-80 degrees. However, closer inspection from the top made it look a bit more gnarly, and put John off. I decided it went, and hucked off it:

We then headed up to the Leven, and found a huge amount of water! We jumped on and headed down the the first falls, Three falls to Agrippa.

After a quick look we placed our camera bunny in the optimal spot, and John went first. After watching him style it, Gary jumped on. A minor upside-down moment saw Gary end up in the hole and the bottom, where he eventually swam. Tom and I chased down the bank for the boat, but our relief at getting it out safely was shortlived! Gary appeared and gave a thumbs down (literally). His thumb was looking huge, and we all thought he had dislocated it. So, game over, and time to walk back to the car. Another successful (?) days boating! Videos to follow............

NB: after several hours in hospital, Gary was told his thumb was broken. However, after a reassessment, it turned out to be badly bruised. No boating for a few weeks for him!

WATERY GOODNESS

Over the last few weeks, there's been a fair bit of water, and therefore a fair bit of boating. Here's some slect photos of the last few days play:

The Keltie Burn and Bracklinn Falls
This was an afternoon session of slacking off thesis writing and going for a play. Four or us went up to the Keltie, which was at a nice level for those who hadn't done it before. It's just up the road from the Leny, and makes a nice change when it is going. The whole thing is great in high water!

Dave having fun on the top falls:


John on the next drop:


I ran bracklinn falls: a lovely set of drops with one hard move to clear a sticky hole ('The gates of Shangri-La' mentioned in the guidebook). Unfortunately the light was dropping, so photography was difficult:
The second drop:


This weekend saw us hunting for something different, and we ended up on the Leven.






A brilliant day, including some fun (for me) on 'End of the World' (see here too).







That's all for now folks: hope it rains again soon......

A (DANGEROUS) LACK OF FRIENDS.........

After spending a fruitless Thursday night trying to persuade people to come paddling, Friday morning dawned and I was on my own (again!).

I was determined to get out, so stuffed the boat in the car and headed north. No rain was forecast, so I was pretty fixed on soloing the Etive. However, after arriving at Triple falls and seeing only one drop, I ran away with my tail between my legs and decided to head north.

Luckily the rain/snow persisted, and the Nevis was up. It was a great level, slightly higher than last time (see here), although I avoided Scimitar by a cunning portage.

Next up was the Coe gorge, which had risen enough for a quick blast down. Back Door Man went fine, although it was a bit scarier than usual.

On the way back to Glasgow, I passed the Falls of Falloch and decided to have a peek. It was a lovely level, although it wasn't as soft as I'd expected when I hit the pool. Surprisingly, it took me longer to run the Falls than the entire of the Coe: I was a wee bit nervous!

A great day (even if a bit lonely), and I got back just as it got dark..................

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!

AT LAST......

After a couple of months of near drought in Scotland (interspersed with a couple of runs down the Orchy and Nevis), it finally rained! The first rain in about six weeks fell mainly in Glen Coe (suprise), so we headed off for a day of classic boating. After driving about with things not looking too promising, we finally decided on the Coe.

It wasn't particularly huge, but was wet enough for a quick blast down. Suprisingly, it was warm, rather than horizontal rain that is usually foud when the Coe is up!

Next up was the Etive, and it was nicely high as we got on. Most of Triple falls was avoided by a cunning portage down the bank, with me and Dave venturing on to run the final drop.




A brilliant blast down topped off the first proper day's boating for about a month.

Finally, here are a couple of lowish water shots of the Nevis, taken many moons ago in January: