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The
info:
For the
trip we used
www.rhiwgoch.co.uk
as
featured in "The Rough Guide" & "Which?"
Guide to Britain's best B&Bs.
On the
edge of the Caledonian Canal,
overlooking Fort William, Ben Nevis and
the surrounding area. |
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BICYCLEMANIA TRAILFINDERS 'KIDDER & CHIEFY'S
SCOTTISH TRIP |
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DAY 1:
Canoeing:
Fort William, Caledonian Canal, Loch
Lockey.
Kidder & Chiefy load up the 17 footer
Canadian canoe they have hired for the
trip up the canal and into Loch Lockey.
All the kit loaded the pair dip the
paddles into the still waters of the
canal and head off. Kidder & Chiefy were
like duck in water, neither of the pair
had
commanded
a canoe let-alone a fully loaded 17
footer. When the pair reached the lock
gates they had to man-handle the canoe &
kit some 300 yard's along the quay-side
to the edge of the loch.
Canoe loaded off they paddled out into
the dead calm waters of Loch Lockey, but
half way across the bay, loch, or
what-ever the wind picked up whipping
the waters into 2 foot monster waves (Well
it was to them). Chiefy was not
bothered he was prepared to weather the
waters, for he was driving the boat
wearing a full wetsuit. Kidder was up at
the pointy bit surveying the horizon for
a glimpse of the camp-site or a monster,
unaware of the storm clouds gathering
behind.
The pair found the camping spot using
there expert navigationally skills &
drove the canoe up onto the beach. The
sun was setting so there was no time to
waste, so first things first, open a
bottle of red wine (a nice little
number with a hint of berries)
fire-wood patrol was next and in no time
the pair had a roaring fire. Kidder &
Chiefy dinned in style that night with
Aberdeen Angus steak with a mushroom
sauce & baby new potatoes followed by
cheesecake. (Oh to live the
outdoor life) |
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DAY 2:
Mountaineering, Canoeing:
Loch Lockey shores to Sron a Choire
Ghairbh 935m
 The
pair got kitted up & set off to find the
trail which would lead them up to the
summit.10 minutes later they were lost,
so like true mountain troopers the pair
made a B-line straight up the hillside
carving a way through the wild terrain.
200 ft higher they found the fireroad,
it had been a hot climb to this point so
surplus kit off they made tracks to the
start of the trail path. The trail
snaked its way up through the forest
crossing mountain streams and out into
open land. It was a long hard climb to
the summit, but what a fantastic reward
waited for them at the top. The views
were beautiful but unfortunately time
was not on there side, so the decision
was made to head back down before it got
dark. The wind had pick up too, the pair
were nearly blown over several time
heading back but they made it down to
base camp, tea on and time to inspect
there battled feet.
After tea Chiefy came up with a bright
idea, the pair would paddle across the
Loch to a pub for a few pints. So Kidder
set up a landing beacon so they could
navigate the way back to camp after a
skin full. So off they set out into the
black still waters of the Loch with only
a small light from the pub as an aiming
point. half way across the waves
picked-up hitting the canoe it made for
a rough ride not being able to see the
waves before they hit you. The pair
landed the canoe and walked up the drive
to the main door of the pub only to find
it has shut up for winter, (Well
that's bollocks) Kidder gets out
his phone and calls in for a E-vac,
lucky for them Kidders mum & dad are
staying just down the road at a holiday
complex. 10 minutes later the pair are
sat in the pub with a nice pint of
Guinness, a few hours later the pair are
dropped off at the canoe and head off
into the black night aiming for the
light on the opposite shores of the
Loch. Again half way across the waves
are big and this time they are ready,
but Chiefy's hat blows off and it's lost
at sea, well Loch. |
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DAY 3:
Canoeing:
Loch Lockey shores to Extraction Point
Laggan Loch
After a good fry-up the pair break camp
and load up the canoe for the return leg
back to Fort William, but the weather
has put pay to that, so it's go with the
flow to Laggan Loch. The pair battle
with the waves all the way trying to
keep the canoe on an even keel, Chiefy
drove the boat like an old sea dog. At
the extraction point the pair dumped the
canoe and headed off to the pub for a
couple of pints, they contacted the
support who came and took them back to
the B&B.
Back at the B&B it was a quick change
and out for some tea and beer. The first
pub/hotel the pair went into charged
them £6.80 for two pints, so Kidder &
Chiefy downed the expensive liquid and
moved on to some where else. Bellies
full and a few pints later the pair
found themselves in some grubby pub
watching a Scottish football match. The
night was late so the pair retired to
the B&B. |
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