The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 32

P D L RUK 32
A DE

The route
Fully loaded with cargo, we paddled unsupported
and wild camped over three days, 60 miles from
Fort William to Inverness.
The surrounding mountains, wildlife, and forests
could have placed us anywhere in the world, and to
me, it felt like we were on another planet. Some of
the gang likened it to Canada and New Zealand how lucky we are in the UK, to have such a majestic
landscape all within a train or car ride.
Deeply
immersed in
Mother
Nature and
each other’s
company, I
quickly
forgot about
modern life.
I felt at
peace and at
home.
On day one, the weather took a sudden turn from
sunshine to hail, rain, rainbows, and Force 5 winds
eliciting moderate water. I remember a moment,
where I was surfing some waves (there was nothing
else to do but surf in that situation - awesome) with
sleet beating against my face with my hood up and
glimmers of rainbows between the veil of diamonds
falling from the sky, at that moment, I fell in love. I had a
fixed grin, my heart was pounding, and I didn’t want
the deliciousness of this erratic weather to end – who
needs to pay a fortune to go on a rollercoaster, when
you can surf the elements for free.

Glimmers of rainbows between the veil

of diamonds
falling from the sky