Thank the Lord, for the Ortlieb Aqua Zoom bag!

After crossing the Sound of Bute, it was a relief to land on the welcoming granite sand beach at Sannox on Arran.

Photo by Ian from Mountain and Sea Scotland.

This was my longest trip in a kayak for six months as I have suffered increasing instability in my left knee and pain in both knees. I am only able to go sea kayaking with the help of my understanding friends. Thank you all. Ian's photo shows Phil assisting me from my kayak. I was hardly able to walk up the beach to the shelter of some gorse bushes to be out of the cold breeze. We sat enjoying second luncheon washed down with a very fine 14year old Glefiddich followed by more 10 year old Jura.

Unfortunately I had been in so much pain when I landed, I had not pulled my kayak high enough up the beach. A combination of a big spring tide and increasing shore break capsized my kayak and filled the cockpit with sand and water. My trusty Ortlieb Aqua Zoom camera bag (with my 5D mk2 inside) was trashed beneath the upturned kayak by the waves for about 20 minutes. Ian and Phil helped me empty the kayak while I inspected the bag and camera. Not a drop of water had got in. I thoroughly recommend this bag to any kayaking photographer.

Leaving Sannox at 1406, time was just a little tight for the last leg down the east coast to Brodick. Nonetheless, Phil and Ian saw the resident otter off Merkland Point.

We landed beside the pier at Brodick at 1548, some 20 minutes before the ferry berthed. The usual ferry, MV Caledonian Isles, was away for her winter refit and her place was taken by Loti*. We enjoyed some banter with her Highland crew as we loaded the kayaks onto the car deck. Then it was up to the cafeteria for curry and chips and fish and chips and a very pleasant chat on the way back to Ardrossan. After running the shuttle, Ian had a 200mile drive back to Aberdeen!

What a day!

*MV Lord of the Isles.

The finest scenic sea kayak crossing in Scotland?

 The crossing of the Sound of Bute from Garroch Head on Bute...

...to Sannox on Arran...

...is probably one of the most scenic in Scotland and at 10.6km requires just a little commitment.

I (and very many others) also like the crossing of Loch Scavaig from Elgol to Loch na Cuilce on Skye but it lacks the commitment of an open crossing, as you can keep to the shore.

So I would like to propose the Garroch Head to Sannox crossing as the finest scenic sea kayak crossing in Scotland.

The Carradale trawler FV Caledonia (TT34) was still trawling her nets...

 ...as we reached mid channel.

Gradually, the mountains of Glen Sannox on Arran began to dominate the horizon to the SW.

 We were entertained..

...by an ever changing vista...

...as the low cloud...

...drifted and swirled round the corries and peaks.

Then, when we paddled under the clouds,...

...we too were  alternately in their shade then...

 ...back in the sunshine as we made our final approach to Sannox.

First luncheon and a first paddle in the Cetus MV.

From Little Cumbrae we set off across a glassy sea towards Bute. Our destination, Port Leithne is just below the second dip on the horizon (from the left).

We were crossing one of the main shipping channels on the west of Scotland; the Firth of Clyde Channel. Fortunately this fishing boat was the only other vessel and it was just motoring in circles with its nets out. On other occasions we have met very different vessels such as this one exactly four years ago. Amazingly, the first time we crossed wakes with Ian was also 4 years ago in this channel. At the time he was not in his kayak but on the bridge of this ship.

Upon arrival we had a serious discussion about whether we would be having second breakfast or third luncheon. I was of the opinion that because the sun could be clearly seen over Phil's shoulder that it must be first luncheon. This discussion was not just of semantic importance. No matter how fine it is, we do not normally quaff malt whisky at breakfast. Without further ado, I settled the argument by opening the 10 year old Jura. It was notable that none of the others disagreed with this decision.

While we enjoyed luncheon in the sunshine, Phil swapped his Quest for the new P&H Cetus MV, which I have on long term test. He could hardly believe how tight it turned compared with the Quest. He also commented on how comfortable the seating position was and how stable the kayak felt on edge.

His grin, when he returned, said it all but he was not going  to get away with paddling the Cetus MV all the way across to Arran. Oh no, I was going to make sure I got it back. I distracted him with some more 10 year old Jura and jumped back in before he realised what I was up to. I will say a lot more about the Cetus MV in the future but let me just say that so far, in conditions from flat calm to force 4/5, I like it a very great deal. The only minor niggle has been some skeg problems caused by very light downhaul elastic in the prototype Mark 2 skeg system in this kayak. It is the only touring kayak that I have tried that might tempt me away from my beloved Nordkapp LV.

Soon we had to launch for the second leg of our paddle, down to Garroch Head then across the Sound of Bute to Arran.

The Pavlovian sound of splashing paddles.

Our first destination was Gull Point on the Little Cumbrae though we did not planned to stop for a break until we reached the south point of Bute, which can be seen rising beyond the point.

 Usually Gull Point resounds to the squabbling calls of the resident gulls but on this still morning...

 ...our approach was heralded by fierce barking from the four terriers of Little Cumbrae! They had started barking when we were still about 3km from their home. The splash of approaching paddles set off a Pavlovian frenzy of barking and salivation. These terriers associate approaching kayakers with sandwiches!

As we rounded the point the view to the north...

...opened up, as we left the Little Cumbrae and its lighthouse in our wakes.

We set off on a limpid sea.

 We set off on a limpid sea...

 ...it was the first time there had been a calm spell in two months.

Our destination was to be the magnificent island of Arran.

Her rocky ridges soared into a clear blue sky. Only on the highest summits did scraps of snow remain after the recent, relentless and relatively warm SW gales.

We met before dawn.

 After two months of incessant wind and rain, today promised to be fair. Ian, Mike , Phil and myself met at Portencross on the Firth of Clyde.

We arrived at low water on a spring tide. This sea urchin found itself exposed...

 ...as we made our way through the narrow channel...

...to the open sea beyond. It was good to have Mike back on the water with us again.

Ian had driven down from Aberdeen to join us. It was great to meet up with him again after our last paddle together on the St Kilda trip.

We then set off at dawn for what promised to be a fantastic day.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 December.

Ailsa Craig at sunset from the Ayrshire coast near Dunure.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

This was the end of a glorious winter day when Tony, Phil and I set off from Seafield at Ayr and paddled past three castles of Carrick (Greenan, Dunure and Culzean) to Maidens. The photo was taken while running the shuttle at the end of the day. To the left of Ailsa Craig you can just make out Ireland. To the right you can see the Mull of Kintyre.