FORK Autumn ‘09 Canoe Safari Report
The Autumn Canoe Safari held on 8th October by Wild by Nature for FORK members was a great success. Wendy Rattray’s report of the day is below. Keep a lookout for the announcement of the next Canoe Safari for FORK members in August next year.
Click Here to see photos of the day!
Classic Autumn Canoe Safari
by Wild by Nature for FoRK members on Thursday 8th October.
The Team: Cliff, Allan, Charles, Derek, Tim, Steve, Louise, Linda, Wendy.
It was such a perfect day, blue sky, light breeze and sunshine all the way. Couldn’t wait to get to Luss, and get the canoes lined up on the beach ready for take-off. After a very good warm up and safety talk by Allan, we set off. Little did we realise that Linda and Derek planned a practical demonstration on the safety talk on ‘what to do when you capsize’ and Allan stepping up quickly to do the procedure! Excellent!
After sorting that out we headed out across the loch, able to make good time with the lovely weather conditions, and the energy giving yummy bacon buttie at the Colqhoun Arms before leaving. My poor partner Tim had to do all the work in our canoe as I was so busy being amazed at the scenery and how far we could see – Ben Lomond looked as though you could touch it. We had a quick stop on the wee beach on Inchtavannach Island, just to stretch out and have a look at the flora and fauna on that island.
Back in the canoes, all the while getting instruction and help ( for those who needed it, like me) from Cliff and Allan. “Knees wide and low”, etc. Easy when you have short legs, like me. We then headed through The Straits, between Inchtavannach and Inchconnachan, which gave us stunning views up and down the loch, and the islands. The trees here are amazing, all very old. Makes you think that this is how it was it years gone by with clans and others living around. Can’t quite remember all the history Cliff gave us!
This took us to the next island and we pulled up on a beach on Inchmoan Island, and set off, inspecting the old monastery there where monks distilled whisky, probably illegally. There is still enough of the building for you to guess where things were. On across the island we came to a fabulous beach, could have been in Florida! Cliff had told us how someone had found ancient Celtic relics here, and Louise immediately found some coins! Sad, they were 2 one pound coins c2004. Oh, well better luck next time.
After a very relaxing and recovering lunch, Derek and Linda almost dried out, we would then try to find the reported herd of white deer, and to catalogue any other wild-life around. A flock of siskins began to strafe us, hoping to share our lunch, or telling us to move on? We split up into 2 groups initially taking opposite sides of the island. Further on, Cliff decided Louise and I should cover further inland and to flush any wildlife out, and being me (didn’t have my tom tom with me) proceed to loose them. Never mind, we came across a group having a bbq on the beach, they told us which way to head (it was the wrong way!) and tramped on. When we got back to Cliff and the gang they told us they had spotted the deer and we had missed them. Oh well, better luck next time!
Enough sitting about, this is about canoeing! The weather was still perfect, and we were having a great time. We paddled up the coast this time (is it the coast on a loch?) looking out for wildlife, and talking about the ancient trees. We saw a heron, a buzzard, and lots more. Stopped off at a small stony beach to stretch our legs again, and to swop round, giving everyone a chance to do something different. This wee beach has great stones for ‘skiffing’ a favourite childhood pastime of mine. Then it gets a bit sad because it was all over and we get back to the base and load up the canoes. Cliff is great at organising everyone to the whole exercise goes smoothly and the jobs get done before you know it. We were all starving, nothing like fresh air and exercise to whet the appetite, so back to Colquhoun Arms for tea.
Like I said, such a perfect day, sky so blue, the loch like glass, no midgies, entertainment, adventure, and learning all they way. My idea of heaven.
Wendy Rattray
