Welcome to our sea kayaking trip diary: a combination of dates for our upcoming trips, plus our own, personal views of the trips we've paddled and the experiences we've had - you might almost call it our blog!

Simon and Ish probably had the best weeks paddling weather so far this year for their honeymoon.

After a days paddling to make sure everything was in place the newly weds set out for a weeks journeying at a leisurely pace from Dunstaffanage Bay in hired boats and kit courtesy of Oban Sea Kayak Guides.

If there are such beings as weather gods Simon and Ish are clearly in their good books as these images show.

By the time of their first wedding anniversary Mr and Mrs Fincher now hope to own their own boats, have upped their personal paddling skills and be prepared to journey in the more remote places of Argyll’s remarkable coastline and islands.

Fantastic weather. Fantastic honeymoon. Absolutely Fantastic Couple!!!!

Good luck, good weather, great paddling to Simon and Ish... And to everyone else of course.

Congratulations to three star paddlers who are now actual BCU 3 Star Paddlers! I paddled with Martin, Richard and Roger, 20th-24th June. After a days get to know each other circumnavigation of Kerrera, we set off from Ellenabeich Harbour Tuesday 21st.

Quick account of next four days:

Tuesday 21st

• Pack boats and paddle out from Ellenabeich Harbour (opposite Easdale Island).
• Paddle southwest pass Dubh-Feith on route to Garbh Eileach.
• Three quarter, anticlockwise circumnavigation of Garvellachs.
• Set camp.
• Plan passage through Bealch a’ Choin Ghlais, between Lunga and the north end of Scarba, sometimes referred to as the Little Corryvreckan, it is better know as the Grey Dogs
.
• Sleep.

Wednesday 22nd

• Break camp.
• Complete Garvellachs circumnavigation, cross to Dubh Mor en route to Grey Dogs.
• Lunch
• Martin, Richard and Roger had planned the journey well the evening before. We arrived with plenty of time to pass through Bealch a’ Choin Ghlais. As we ate I mentioned that the weather and sea states where more than good enough to allow easy passage through the Little Corryvreckan’s big brother.
• If you pass west to east through the Grey Dogs and keep paddling with the Scarba coastline to your right it’s about an hours paddle to Rubha Righinn. From Rubha Righinn you pass east to west through the Gulf of Corryvreckan, site of the world’s third largest whirlpool.
• I hasten to add the whirlpool was not running, which was as planned, a little guile before strength isn’t a bad thing when you’re paddling in this area.
• Gulf of Corryvreckan ✔ Tick.
• Follow coast northeast then north to camp within easy striking distance of Belnahua next day.

Thursday 23rd

• Cross, Rubha Fiola – Ormsa – Belnahua.
• Early lunch Belnahua.
• Circumnavigation - Belnahua.
• Work tidal streams between Belnahua and Fladda.
• Paddle north and east into Cuan Sound.
• Watch eagle soaring over cliff tops as we camp between Cuan and Easdale Island.

Friday 24th

• 3 x 3 Star Assessments.
• Home.

While Kari-Tek’s Mid West Sea Kayak Symposium was a great success the remainder of May, almost all 29 days of it turned out to be ...... challenging. When it wasn’t wet, it was windy and when it wasn’t windy it was wet. Mostly it was just wet and windy at the same time.

People have told me the strongest winds in 20 years danced their way through the Firth of Lorne one particular Monday in May. Trees fell faster than million pound football players in the opposition’s penalty area. Boats dragged moorings in fashion fit to put a fifteen year old’s feet to shame. Me I stayed in bed... except for the weekend 20th – 22nd.

Three young men and two members of staff of the Phoenix Detached Youth Project chose to complete a commitment to Paddle Against Fuel Poverty May 20th, 21st, 22nd - it was hard work.

Finishing in torrential rain they helped reload boats and kit back into and onto vans and a trailer before seeking out well deserved showers and sit-in fish suppers back in Oban. They were absolutely shattered but still joking with each other and capable of raising a smile.

To find out more about The Phoenix Detached Youth Project, click:
www.pdyp.org/blog/11/06/07/sea-kayaking-fuel-poverty
www.pdyp.org/video (scroll down for fuel poverty video clip)
www.pdyp.org/about