Mike kindly ran me from Oban to
Carsaig Bay where we met Tony at 1630. We were bound for a circumnavigation of the south half of Jura. This would involve a portage from
Tarbert Bay on the east coast to West Loch Tarbert (Jura) on the west coast. We bid farewell to Mike and were on the water by 1730. We had 15km to go but this was the Sound of Jura and the tide was ebbing to the SW which would give us a considerable push.
As we paddled out of Carsaig Bay we caught sight of the distant Paps of Jura. Our route would take us on a wide circumnavigation of these peaks.
We even had a little breeze to assist our passage and we soon travelling at the heady speed of 10 to 12km/hr.
Away to the north Scarba loomed above the north end of Jura and the great Gulf of Corryvreckan.
We were heading for the lowest point on the Jura skyline but had to divert at right angles to the course of the very rapidly approaching...
...S73 Hermelin a German Navy Schnellboot, which was making her way up the Sound of Jura at high speed. Her 4 diesel engines give her a top speed of 40 knots so we had to paddle quite hard until we saw her port side and could relax.
S73 Hermelin was wearing her NATO pennant number P6123 as part of the Joint Warrior exercise.
Thankfully she was going so fast that the racket of her engines soon disappeared leaving peace in the Sound of Jura once more.
An hour and fifty minutes after leaving Carsaig Bay we arrived at Tarbert on Jura.
We were welcomed by a large dog otter.
Tarbert is not a big place and we saw more otters than people as..
...we paddled into the head of the bay at the end of the day.
Hi Will you are so right about working the tides there, it is so satisfying. Colonsay! I definitely need to go back there. I have been since before my knee operations.
ReplyDeleteDouglas :o)
Douglas I have been following your blog since we met at physiotherapy in Dec 2013 after my first and your second knee reconstructions. I have followed your progress with great interest and have to say I have received great inspiration from reading about your adventures from your first tentative post op steps to the Gareloch to your arrival on Jura. However I do not believe it was a miracle. Only those who have undergone knee reconstruction surgery can appreciate the countless hours of painful physio. Unfortunately my own progress has not been so good as yours despite being only half your age. I have not recovered fully from the first op never mind the had the second yet. I have just found the phsio too painfull to bear. So thanks again for the inspiration but it is no miracle. It is steely determination that got you to Jura. Best regards J
ReplyDeleteHi J it is very good to hear from you. I am sorry to hear about your progress but do not be despondent. There was three and a half years between my first and second operations. After the first I went back to work before I completed physiotherapy and that knee did not recover as much as I had hoped. My surgeon offered the second operation several times before I was brave enough to take it. I am really glad I went for the second operation. By this time I had retired so was able to complete the full course of physio and continue the exercises to this day. The good news is that I made a much better recovery from the second operation but better than that, the physio for the second operation actually improved my other knee several years after I had given up hope of further improvement. I also think having two stable knees has encouraged me to become more mobile which in turn improves my knees thus breaking the vicious circle of pain causing restriction in mobility causing further pain etc. My advice would be to literally bite the bullet and go for the second operation. I have no regrets. Douglas :o)
Delete