2006 Reports
Stonehaven with Dave G, Marc, Steve, Sietse, Sjoukje, Gav, Nigel, Marie-Louise (Tuesday 30th May)
For the first 'proper' club night of the year, Dave Genney joined us from Inverness for the evening, dedication indeed. Arriving at Stoney Harbour at high tide, some of us were eyeing up the surf with some trepidation, but after a half-hour natter it had calmed down enough for us to launch. Venturing out past the harbour wall though, with a strong following wind, it soon became apparent that some of the group would struggle to make it past the headland to the south, so we headed back into the shelter of the harbour. After a wee while pottering about practising our (for some of us) new-found skills, we headed back round for some well-deserved R&R in the surf. Not quite Apocalypse Now, but it got a bit hair-raising at times for us newbies, with a spectacular double capsize rounding off an entertaining night on the water. The festivities continued in the pub, with much drooling over Dave's 'Bible' (the Knoydart catalogue!), and plotting for future expeditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cove with Marty, Ruari, Isla, Steve, Gav, Nigel (Thursday 1st June)
A short evening paddle before the Programme-planning meeting in the Cove Hotel. Luckily Ruari and his boat made it down the steep twisty road unscathed, and we were soon out on the water , heading south to have a poke around in the caves and a play in amongst the skerries. The paddle was rounded off with an excellent demonstration of how to juggle while standing up in your kayak (at least that was the plan). A quick couple of pints and the 2006 programme was (more or less) finalised.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catterline skills with Marc, Gav, Rebekka (plus Nigel and Marie-Louise to wave us off) (Tuesday 6th June)
One of those nights to appreciate the finer points in life - such as a warm car, dry clothing and a TV! However new toys had just been purchased and had to be played with, so in we went. Despite the torrential rain, howling gale, choppy sea and generally miserable conditions, we poked our nose out of the harbour, thought better of it, and came back in. Another nosey out, just to feel what a 5 felt like (quite good fun in a harbour), and a little edging practice, (no need to capsize tonight, we were all soaked already!), then out to warm up, and remember what extremities are supposed to feel like (most of them at least).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catterline with Marc, Marty, Isla, Gav, Rebekka (Thursday 8th June)
Another sunny evening, though with a wee bit more lively sea. After the usual quick dodge around the skerries, we headed north for a quick look at the Garran, then nipped down south, almost to Todhead Point. A quick play around the rocks, a few words with the abundant jellyfish, then back to Catterline. A few of us braved the still-cold waters to practice eskimo-rescues (or rather found, then lost, the point of no-return when edging) - a useful skill to have when you've capsized in the harbour with someone sitting next to you waiting for you to capsize. Not sure if it's worth hanging around waiting in a real sea though!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stonehaven with Steve, Mike, Gill, Gav, Rebekka, Marie-Louise, Nigel (Thursday 22nd June)
We set out leisurely on this beautiful calm and sunny evening. While we relaxed in the first bay south of Stoney admiring the puffins and kittiwakes, Nigel and Marie-Louise caught up with us and we went on our way south in arm-chair paddling fashion. Steve's millionaire shortbread gave us an extra burst of sugar rush and we zoomed past Dunnottar Castle looking fabulous in the midsummer sun until Thornyhive Bay. A little slow swell aided a bit of surfing on the way back. The short summer night was celebrated in true style by some of the group with a few well-earned ones at Stoney harbour until well after closing time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portlethen with Marty & Isla, Martin, Carol, Ben, Gav, Rebekka (Thursday 29th June)
First time in Portlethen for some of us, and despite Isla's excellent directions, some of us still managed to get mislaid on the way there. One of the rougher trips this year so far, making playing in the skerries great fun for some of the more intrepid paddlers - the more wary of us took the wide route, everyone joining up at a sheltered cleft almost at Floors Craig. After a short rest and a natter, we headed back up the coast, finishing off with an unintentional capsize in the shelter of the harbour!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catterline with Alan, Gav, Gill, Kristina, Mike, Rebekka (Tuesday 4th July)
An intended skills/practice session turned into a lovely paddle up to see the birds at Crawton, a few weeks before they start leaving for the year (you can always practice next week!). The virtues of not leaving your BA in the car were discussed at length, but luckily everyone stayed in their kayaks without incident, despite the choppy waters around the headland at Crawton.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catterline to Stonehaven with Mike, Gill, Ben, Marc, Gav & Rebekka (20th July 2006)
Most of the UK had been sweltering in a heatwave for most of the week except, of course, for the Eeast coast. The forecast however was for the haar to disperse sometime during the evening, so we took our chances and went for one of the longest evening trips of the year, from Catterline to Stonehaven. After much shuffling of strawberries and peapods around the coffee table the night before, travel logistics were eventually confirmed, everyone turned up good and early, and for once we were on the water on time. As forecast, the haar disappeared as we went up the coast, and before long we were bathed in evening sunshine. The seabirds at Crawton were probably at their best, with lots of fluffy young chicks almost on the verge of leaving the nest. The view from underneath the cliffs was even more spectacular than that from the clifftop walk. Paddling north, and taking the advice of the friendly fisherman, we had great fun discovering the various caves and clefts, some of them going all the way through the cliff-face and out the other side – causing some consternation to the group of seals having a snooze in the back of one! An excellent evening was rounded off with a quick tour through the skerries, before paddling into the sunset at Stonehaven harbour. A throwbag was lost during the tour - get in touch if anyone finds it!
