ThePADDLER 36
The estate workers were happy we could camp in a meadow a few hundred metres beyond Kernsary , though concerned that it would be very sheltered , warm and muggy , and that we ’ d therefore be eaten alive . There wasn ’ t much choice , so camp we did , but they were right about the midges , the first really bad ones we ’ d had and amongst the worst I ’ ve experienced over the years . Dinner , again by Liz , was a hasty affair and was eaten “ on the hoof ” whilst constantly walking around camp to avoid being eaten too badly when lifting your midge net to spoon the food in . Everyone was early to bed , and most of us then spent the next half hour or more chasing down every midge that came into the tent with us .
Our final morning arrived . All we needed to do was to roll ourselves the final 5km to Poolewe , though I was secretly hoping we might find a straightforward way to drop from track to river for the last 2km or so . Though the route dropped slightly overall , it was very much up and down short steep hills and was pretty tiring . New deer fences prevented simple access to the river , so it was pushing and pulling all the way . We all breathed a sigh of relief when we hit the tarmac with a km or so to go , and then suddenly , we were at the end of the road . We ’ d done it . Though easier than the portage in , rolling like this wasn ’ t nearly as satisfying , but boy were we proud of where we ’ d reached and climbed , with canoes and kids .
Spending time travelling through this magnificent country was what made the trip , that and the days spent living beneath those spectacular towering mountains at the Dubh Loch . The paddling was only part of the trip , but linking those little lochs together to find a canoe route to Fionn Loch and following its shining waters into the heart of the remotest hills in Britain , will be an experience none of us will ever forget .
Day seven : the finish at Poolewe
Location on PaddlePoints : https :// gopaddling . info / paddlepoints /? PP = 17716
SOME STATS Total distance travelled , excluding the hillwalking : total 42km ; 28km paddling , 14km portage .
Height gain / loss about 350m .
Wine drunk 15L . Custard consumed 4L . Cans of tonic drunk by Lynne with her gin 24 . Whisky decanted into plastic pouches in hotel rooms 3L . Whisky leaking into luggage from plastic pouches , 0.5L .
Flour spilt into hotel room sinks whilst making bannock mixes , leaving suspicious white powder everywhere 200g .
Midges killed in his tent by the narrator on one evening . 502 .
Day six at Bad Bog Bay