Day two

The following day started for me with a hearty bowl of porridge with a smattering of mixed nuts and seeds, a new combination that seems to work.
Off we sailed, again we were off in our own bubbles enjoying the free ride and the surrounding landscape.




Almost too soon we sailed through some narrows and into Ceann Loch, a small loch with a marina full of hire cruisers, a bit of a navigation error later(no canoe trail signs visible) and with polite instructions from one of the boats we doubled back and aimed for the beach left of the moorings.
We settled into canoe life quickly another smooth portage and another section of canal.



As we paddled along we marvelled at the massive civil engineering undertaking that produced this canal way back in the 1800’s. To be fair it would be a task and a half in our modern world and the technology we have at hand. Old Tommy Telford sure made his mark here as well.

Cruising the canal



Under Laggan bridge we paddled into Loch Oich, once again sails were raised and we took off again, cruising faster than we would with paddles, proving once again that the canoe is truly a wondrous craft.



The wind picked up at the far end of the loch and we were squeezing every ounce of energy we could from it, we were trying various tactics, some working some weren’t, but boy it was fun.



We entered the canal again and soon enough we came to Kytra Loch our second campsite. A couple had beat us to it and were lugging their kit about from the pontoon on the left across the lock gates and to the camping area on the right. We just turned in and pulled our gear and boats up the bank right on the campsite.
It was time for team work to kick in, a cooking fire was needed pronto as the food for the night needed two hours of simmering. So a cook fire was quickly prepared and Tim got cooking whilst around him we erected a tarp configured to catch the smoke to annoy the midges away. The couple had nearly got their tent up by the time we had ours up and was sitting down having a whisky coffee.



Whiskey/coffee time



We invited them over to the campfire but they were too tired as they hadn’t slept that well over the last few days.
That nights dish was a Moorish Tagine followed by Spotted Jock, (Spotted Dick but with the fruit soaked in malt whisky)



It was turning dark when a “guided” group arrived, tired and damp. They were in awe at our set up and particularly loved the fire and to rub salt in their wounds they were also jealous of our food as they balanced uncomfortably on logs eating their “packet food” warming themselves on our fire.



Day three to follow.....