At 1245 eleven paddlers left the splendidly appointed Milarrochy car park – spaces, toilets, slipway and beach…….actually, cancel the beach. Though billed as a grade A paddle, conditions were somewhat more challenging. The loch could be described as “full” and the expected beach was all but non-existent; however we gathered for a briefing prior to setting off into the waves of a westerly F3/2 towards Bucinch. The group paddled tightly into the wind, a stuck skeg proving an issue for one of our company, but this was soon rectified. Reaching the lee of the small island, we re-cast our trip plan, ate jelly babies and took the direct route from the southernmost point of Bucinch across to Inchcruin, from where we skirted round the north-western end and into the relative shelter provided by Inchconnachan. Continuing south, we passed through the allegedly-but-not-at-all-particularly-today narrows of Inchconnachan/Inchcruin and managed to locate a tight landing spot on another drowned beach on the latter, spotting a young roe deer as we did so. After a late lunch we headed south-east to the lee shore of Inchfad and thence to Arrochymore Point with greater exposure to the wind. Some surfing was available to those inclined on our return to Milarrochy.
This was a relatively short trip where the group coped very well with conditions which exceeded grade A. Well done to all; in particular to those who rose to a challenge unexpected. Many thanks to Mari for co-ordinating.