What was originally suggested by Ivor and Jim as a smaller, more intimate trip grew arms, legs and possibly other limbs to finally resolve at 15 paddlers leaving from North Queensferry on Saturday morning.
The combination of a tight LW start and increased numbers muddied the waters both metaphorically and literally – especially literally – but by 1000 two groups had been resolved and experienced on-the-water briefings in calm conditions and blazing sunshine.
We paddled to the Forth Bridge to group up together for a previously requested website photoshoot, using the opportunity to practise leaving a mass raft systematically.
Thereafter our two groups – led by Michael and Richard – took slightly different routes towards Inchcolm: handrailing round the Fife coast or initially taking a more open-water approach. The latter landed at Dalgety Bay prior to reuniting with the former on a very busy Inchcolm, full of day boat trippers. As we lunched, we watched the haar rolling in to completely obscure the Lothian coast, on occasion revealing the tops of the Pentlands and a huge tanker looming out of the mist.
The flood tide and an increased, now following wind made for some slightly more interesting conditions on our return journey. Rounding the corner from the north beach of Inchcolm, the astonishing sight of the very tops of the three bridges floating above the haar awaited us. Both groups worked round the Fife coast, using buoys/lobster pot flags/pier structures as waypoints, since any more direct route across the Forth was impossible – a dynamic exercise in practical navigation. Loud horn blasts announced the presence of another tanker heading downriver under the northern arch; once clear, we returned to the now flooded NQ slipway around 1600.
An excellent day out with different aspects of learning – tidal planning, group management, navigation – with a great bunch of people. Thanks to Ivor and Jim for organising; aspiring SKLs Richard and Michael for leading the groups and Roddy and Ian for overseeing.