Gob smacked by the fine scenery at the mouth of Loch Fyne.

NW of Portavadie we came to a delightful number of islands. This isle is Eilean a' Bhuic. It lies off the beautiful...

...Glenan Bay which is backed by...

...verdant wooded hills above which a pair of eagles were gliding on a thermal.

Further north we came to all that remains of a great Iron Age dun called Caisteal Aoidhe which sits atop its little tidal island. Most people would not look twice at it but once you have an eye for such relics they are easy to spot.

Another isle, Eilean Buidhe, is surrounded by a maze of...

...low lying reefs and submerged skerries in which a colony of seals can be found.

As we paddled deeper into the confines of Loch Fyne we left the open waters of the Sound of Bute and the mountains of Arran far behind. We came to many bays and inlets. Loch Fyne is a great location for yacht racing and...

...in one remote bay we came across this racing yacht with an impossibly tall mast.

Between the bays the coast of Loch Fyne is characterised by bold rocky headlands that plunge steeply into the sea. Loch Fyne is the largest sea Loch in Scotland and was cut by a huge glacier. Just off this headland south of Auchalick Bay, the loch is 150m deep.

Auchalick Bay proved to be an ideal stop for third luncheon and a snooze in the sun...

...on the rocks above the sands. The sea pinks were in full flower.

  Further north we passed further rocky headlands such as this one at...

 ...the wonderfully named Gob a' Bharra.

After a long and tiring, day involving three luncheons, we made landfall for a camp at Kilfinan Bay. The site was sheltered from the northerly wind by a headland and we were soon perspiring. While the others set up their tents, I went for a quick swim which certainly cooled me down.

No restriction on draft at Portavadie Marina.

 From Asgog Bay, Mike and I took a little detour...

 ...round the island of Sgat Mor and its little lighthouse before turning north into the mouth of Loch Fyne, the biggest sea loch in Britain,...

 ...towards Portavadie Marina where we had...

 ...booked lunch for 12:30. The marina is the largest man made hole in the World. It was made to construct giant...

...concrete oil rigs even bigger than this one at nearby Ardyne, which I photographed when it was near complete in 1977.

 The huge dock cost £14 million to excavate in the late '70s but by the time it was completed the industry had moved on to cheaper steel rigs. Portavadie never built a single rig! For a while it was used by a fish farm but it has been home to the excellent Portavadie Marina for quite a few years now. The hole is so deep that the marina proudly boast "There is no restriction on draft"

We paddled to the head of the marina and there we met David and Phil. We had originally planned a trip to Islay or Tiree but last minute commitments meant David and Phil could only manage 2 days and one night. Mike and I then decided to go for a more local paddle so that David and Phil could join us.

Where better to meet than the Portavadie Marina restaurant and bar? No restriction on draft? We can test that. We'll start with four pints of Guinness please.

We decided to go for a two course dinner and I started with the Taste of “Argyll Smokery” seafood and shellfish, pickled vegetables, watercress and wasabi cream. Service was excellent, so what a great second luncheon, highly recommended.Yes, sea kayaking can be a most arduous activity when one can be exposed to great hardships.

Some considerable time passed before we set off once more on our sea kayaking exploration of Argyll's secret coast.

A popular luncheon spot in Asgog Bay.

 We left the wide strand of Kilbride Bay and paddled round the Ardlamont coast and through the...

...reefs that connect the island of Sgat Beag to the mainland.

We then arrived in beautiful Asgog Bay where we passed an old motor cruiser. Her skipper was making good use of the fine weather and varnishing her wooden topsides.

Unfortunately the tide was ebbing fast and the tide goes out a long way in Asgog Bay. With loaded boats it would have been hard work carrying them back over the near level sands so we went on...

 ...and stopped for first luncheon at a rock inlet at the mouth of the bay.

The rock pools were filled with interest...

...and we were clearly not the only ones to enjoy lunch here. I had already spotted the trickle of fresh water draining into the gully where we landed. These fragments of sea urchin shell clinched it. This was otter territory. They favour spots near fresh water so that they can rinse their fur after diving in the sea.