Sunsets

One of the finest moments about kayaking is being on the water as the sun sets. This picture was taken by Douglas Wilcox on a trip round Lismore.

A calm night off Ayr harbour

Sun setting off Heads of Ayr

This was my sunset as i was eating my dinner on the beach of Bracken bay

The end of a perfect paddle at largs marina

This is another fantastic view as i was about to paddle back to Maidens beach from Dunure bay.

On the way back to Maidens beach the sun set behind Ailsa Craig

Another beautiful view this time from Little Cumbrae looking across to Bute

Holy Island

The last paddle i was on was ment to be with friends! we had planned to take the ferry across to Arran and drive over to the west coast and go for a paddle over to carradale.But due to a major wardrobe malfunction i had to make a mad dash back to Ayr and collect my drysuit. only to pull up as the ferry was leaving the pier. opppps!!!!

After some quick thinking from douglas and phil we planned a recovery paddle. they would leave my kayak at the ferry terminal and i would go for a trip around the Holy Island while douglas and phil would stick with the original plan.

I picked up my kayak and paddled south to the Holy Island. On the east side of the island there is a wee pebble beach with a white post. Written on the post in four languages was "May peace prevail on earth" which brought a wry smile to my face as i was reminded of an incident when friends landed not so long ago and were threatened with having wild ponys set on them. Very peacfull.

some beautiful red sandstone cliffs.

One of the wild ponys looking very calm.

looking south you can just see Ailsa Craig.

at the south of the island there are a group of rocks that you can have some fun and weave in and out of.

On the way back to Brodick i was very lucky to see two otters playing. I got a video of them playing but i am having real problems posting it on here. Think the file is to big i will try and post it later.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

i wish you all the best for 2010. thanks to everybody that made 2009 a fantastic year.

a trip around the cumbraes

on sunday we went for a wee paddle around great cumbrae and little cumbrae. the start was very cold with an icy start.

we circumnavigated the islands anticlock wise. down the west side and took advantage of the tide and wind. we enjoyed a following sea. the weather stayed cold and overcast but every now and again there would be a break in the clouds

by the time we were heading north again towards millport the sun had broken through.

looking north west we were rewarded with fantastic views of the snow capped mountains.

then we looked south west the view of the snow capped arran mountains took my breath away. wow!!!!

what a beautiful view

i sat in the middle of the tan and took in the beautiful view of arran. it took all my will power to leave and paddle on towards millport.

looking south we could see where we had paddled from. you can just make out the castle on the left.

tony in millport bay

heading out of millport bay enjoying the warmth of the sun as we head back to largs.

a fantastic sunset to finish off a fantastic day.

Loch Lomond

This is Loch Lomond last sunday. I drove through rain wind and sleet to get here. I worried that i was mayby getting a little obsessive and questioned my sanity!!!!

Its not until you drift slowly and silently through still waters that you realise that this is what it is all about.

You have to push yourself a little sometimes and you will be rewarded with views like this.

Just south of Luss in a little bay there is a statue of a child.

I remember as a child sitting in the back of my fathers car and seeing this statue in the loch. The urban myth about this statue was that it had been erected in respect of a child that had drownd there, but in actual fact it was erected in 1890 by a local stone masson. This was erected by local stone masson william kerr and is known as "wee peter" or kerrs folly. William kerr placed the statue were he was happy as a child. One story is that he found the statue in a London scrap yard and another is that he made it for a client that rejected it.

Wee peter

Looking south.

seals

while i was paddling up the west side of little cumbrae i got the feeling i was being followed! I could hear the sound of an inquisative seal following me. he came right up to me several times to check me out. i let myself drift along as he got more bold. i took this picture over my shoulder and caught him out.

sunday in dunure

I sat watching sadly from the shore.

Beautiful day.

Douglas and Phil.

With a longing heart i watched the guys disappear around the coast.