Shipwrecks, castles and snow-covered mountains could all be seen yesterday as I joined other members of Inverness Canoe Club on a paddling trip on Loch Oich. There were open canoes, sea kayaks and river kayaks all doing their own thing, and I joined the sea kayakers in a boat I had borrowed from Boots n Paddles.
We headed south from Bridge of Oich, enjoying an easy ride with the wind behind us and exploring the western shore at a leisurely pace.
The Great Glen Water Park kindly allowed us to have lunch inside at the park, which gave us chance to warm up before the rather more testing return journey.
We were battling our way against a gusting force 4 wind now, which was hard work but, with a bit of technique coaching along the way, we slowly made our way north again, pausing for rest whenever we found a little bit of shelter.
It was a fine winter’s day on the water and great to be out in the kayak again. Hopefully there’ll be more of this in 2017!