Arisaig   Sunday   22 August

So far so good - kayak, spray deck, buoyancy - well done Dave, water
and paddle are on their way. Memorable day - sea otters, seals, knowing that there had been basking sharks in the area was good enough for us. The forecast was pretty bad - we in fact had fabulous weather.

Kelly Kettle Adventures
Open canoeing down the River Spey (in northern Scotland for those of you who don’t know your haggis geography ..) was a great chance for extended time with KK (Kelly kettle). And if you have not encountered one of these, it is a nifty water heater where you build a fire in the base and the water sits in the skin of the chimney.. hey presto, a few minutes later you have hot water ..and all your backcountry and Ray Mears desires met in one hot brew. Mike is not smoking it in this photo- just a helping mouth to get the fire going.


Our plan was to canoe in open boats from Aviemore to the mouth of the River Spey in the Moray Firth (just left of the north sea) – approx 60 miles in 4 days. Simon and Jude as one team and Mike and I as the other. Some of us (M&M) had anxieties we needed professional guides but Simon inspired us with enough confidence for us to believe we could do it under our own steam (and significantly cheaper). Only the lack of a boat stood in our way .. Brookbank Canoes hired us one – and a fine boat it was too We-no-ah Prospector – 16ft, 29Kg and great on moving water – for only £140 for the week. They kind of do as a demo to encourage you to buy – and it might just have worked!

So we packed up the boats with kit and camping gear – no real weight issues so for some reason lots of tins of chickpea curry as the main diet. We used barrels and dry bags – with more dry bags in side – water is tricky stuff and can find its way anywhere. Simon and Jude had amply demonstrated this,doing us all a favour on the Sunday when we had a day trip and they capsized. This meant we sorted out our rescue techniques. Simon did a grand job of recovering the boat from tree debris in the river. My years of rock climbing came in useful to belay Simon as he tackled the torrent and being a true Yorkshire man, went back in to dive for a fleece trapped under water – “well it is Patagonia” he was heard to say.

In the boat there are 2 seats - ladies go up front (we are lighter :) ) and as in life, take the full brunt of the waves and also provide the power. At the back the heavier guys do some steering with rudder paddle strokes … to be honest Jude and I were not quite certain what else given that neither of we could never see what they were up to! I recall Mike having a bit of a rant about wing mirrors at one point .....

The first two days were fairly gentle water – except on day 2 when it rained and was windy – canoeing in wind can be a challenge to say the least ... Mike was heard to say, “I’d swear we are going up hill” ....worrying for an environmental scientist.

Our accommodation was “wild” camping – first night in a builders yard with a field attached and permission for an open fire (Ray Mears unleashed - chopping and sawing with avengence we were). You are not allowed to camp on the banks as it is owned by the local lairds etc. and their clients pay up to £1200 a day to fish there hence they do not want campers messing up their manicured river banks. The other two nights were kind of public spaces – a village green with no village and a park – both with public toilets for facilities (even the builders yard had a hot tap!) – more public loos than George Michael became a trip phrase!
















En route we were treated to jumping fish – salmon a plenty – none landed in the boat. Lots of herons (presumably more successful at catching the fish than us) and a brief glimpse of an otter. The river is quite wide in places but there were a couple of days when the water got lively .. up to Grade 3 .. which if you don’t know, means white, foamy and wet - so the womenfolk got wetter from waves over the bow and the guys got to bail out at the back. Amazingly we did not capsize .. a few near misses and some nifty paddle work needed - there are not many times you get a guy urging you to “get your oar in” - (in this case it meant a stroke to give an instant change of direction) – thank goodness for the couple of days on a training course and much reading of the "Path of Paddle" in the YHA the night before we set off.

The route took us through Aberlour where genuine scottish shortbread is made – we smelt sugar cooking and down past numerous distilleries – whiffs of roasting barley. We had a great evening in the Highlander Inn at Craigellachie www.whiskyinn.com where after a fine dinner of Scottish food – salmon, lamb, haggis, we had a whiskey tasting. We were supplied with 6 shots of the finest Spey malts and a pen and paper. Pure nectar it was, honey flavours, warm notes so if you are looking for an good malt, let us know, we have recommendations! Auchroisk was a favourite all round – so mellow can’t even describe it. If you want a whiskey trip – this is THE place. Spey malts are much softer and rounder than the Islay / Skye ones.















A total high was arriving at the mouth of the river to see the waves rolling in – there were anxious moments as to at what point we would get out and thoughts of we had not quite anticipated going to Norway. Fortunately there was a shingle beach just before the sea proper and we were back on dry land. The Moray Firth is famous for whale and dolphin sightings and the WDPS – the Whale and Dolphin Preservation Society HQ has a fine café and we sat outside eating cakes as the sun also shone making it just a special end.














It was an awesome trip– can’t recommend both the Spey and open canoeing enough! Everything I love – journeying, fire making, great company, whiskey, wilderness – we had it all and more. Thanks team!

Manchester 100
Another 'first' ticked off for Jo, as Liz and Glynis made it not only to Wythenshawe Park but then a whole 100+ miles round Cheshire. Timing went out the window when we discovered that it was such a beautiful day and asked ourselves 'why hurry?'. The day was then declared Liz and Jo's Hen Party and got even better. It was probably a little remiss of me in terms of hen party protocol - no sashes in sight (guess the Bike Right tops sufficed), only carbo drinks at the bar and I didn't get off with either of the brides to be (not for the want of trying). No one was sick although judging from the one picture I have two of us don't look great.   There can't be many folk two weeks away from a wedding that spend a precious Sunday in this fashion.
Partnership of the Century.