Skye trip (Report - Lucy; Photos - Im/Dave/Rebekka)
Friday 3rd-Monday 6th August
Gav, Rebekka, Lucy, Dave J, Nigel, Hilary, Ken, Imogen, Sietse, Sjoukje, Ed, Richard G, Ben.
Friday - We all arrived at Torrin in a howling gale at various times in the evening, v tired after the long drive from Aberdeenshire (but Ed came from Ardnamurchan and Hilary arrived on Saturday). Poor Sietse & Sjoukje had a break-down at Elgin and had to be rescued by Nigel and Gav & Rebekka!
Saturday - Southwesterly Force 8 gale! Therefore, some people (Lucy, Dave J, Ken, Im, Sietse, Siokje) pottered in or around Dunvegan Castle. Nigel stayed at home to await the arrival of Hilary. But the rest of the party, brave souls, attempted a windy paddle for a couple of hours, in the (comparative) shelter of Dunvegan Bay (still a v v strong wind even there!). All parties bumped into each other at Neist Point to watch the huge, breaking storm swells come crashing in under the lighthouse - v magnificent. Back at the ranch in the evening we had a ceilidh with various fiddles, penny whistle, guitar and mandolin, and some excellent singing voices! The only glaring thing missing was Dave's didgeridoo, although someone made him one out of cardboard, but it didn't cut the mustard. Bring the didj next time, Dave!
Sunday - The wind had calmed a lot by the morning and become dead calm by mid-afternoon. So a paddle was decided upon from Torrin itself round the point and into Elgol. Car shuttles were arranged for transport back from Elgol. After a short while the party split into 2 - Party A carried out Plan A, while Party B (Hilary, Gav, Rebekka, Lucy, Dave) split away to go into Loch Eishort. After lunch, however, Party B split again - Hilary was tired so Gav and Rebekka paddled back to Torrin with her, and v generously allowed Dave and Lucy (Party C) to carry on into Loch Eishort.
Party A, meanwhile, were having a lovely paddle. They met Nigel at a lunch break at and continued round the (amazingly calm) point, exploring the excellent caves. The views of Rum, and into the Cuillin round the point were fantastic. It was too lovely to land at Elgol immediately, so a bit of a paddle around there was in order, before the car-shuttling back to (and from, and to) Torrin.
Party C had a leisurely 25km paddle in and around Loch Eishort and its little islets near Ord. No caves, but instead, an enormous sea eagle! A newly fledged youngster with fresh bright red ring tags flapping in the breeze. On the way back to Torrin Dave caught 4 mackerel just in time for supper!
Monday - The original plan for an expedition from Elgol into Coruisk was skuppered by yet more gales and rain. So we had no choice but to just back up, clean up and leave. Rather disappointing, but never mind, an enjoyable weekend was had by all, despite the inclement weather. A huge thank you to Gav for organizing it. We must return!
