PADDLER 76
PADDLER 76
2. THE ART OF NOT SUFFERING
Go big or go home. Thanks to a spacious canoe, a winter paddling trip can be cosy, comfortable, and potentially even luxurious! Due to ample space, we pack five-season sleeping bags, many coats, gloves, spare gloves, and more gloves, thick camp socks, extra food, a minibar, etc.
After some bushcraft grafting with a tarp, an axe, and a saw, a woodland living room was crafted. Copious amounts of freshly split dry wood ignited a roaring fire. The heat was contained by the tarp behind and over us, keeping the snow from beating down on us and our fire and keeping everything dry. It was absolutely snug and probably less drafty than sitting at home.
Beside us, nestled in the snow, we have a minibar: beer, G & T and espresso martinis in cans.
3. WINTRY WILDLIFE IN ABUNDANCE
Becoming loony about wild loons. By day two of our Loch Shiel wintry canoe trip, we had begun our journey down the river and north to the sea. Here, the wildlife was in abundance.
Along Loch Shiel was a plentitude of grazing deer. When scouting out our first campsite after our first day, we looked up above our desired campsite to see two regal eagles perched above a silver birch tree. Seeing not one but two eagles in the highlands was a magnificent and true gift. It is a spectacular sight that seems familiar in the Canadian wilderness but rare and exciting for our eyes here in the UK.
On day two, we reached Loch Moidart. As we paddled to the sea, we were stunned to see curlews, sea otters, and wild loons( great northern divers). We also saw lots of inquisitive seals.
Despite their rarity, we were unmistaken by the eerie calls of the wild loons. These migratory birds breed in the Northern Hemisphere, such as North America, Greenland and Iceland. Seeing them in Scotland was news to us and a wonderful surprise, accompanying them, paddling at sea. Again, yet another fantastic reason to get out despite sub-zero temperatures.
4. IT’ S UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL
Paddling the classic Loch Shiel canoe trip in the dark depths of winter did not disappoint.
Day two’ s evening campsite was on the fort island of Eilean Nan Gabhar. Shrouded in sea wildlife and views of mountains draped in hazy hues of pink clouds. The evening was exquisitely cold. It was time to rest after