More on the Ferries
February 27, 2008 on 3:33 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments
It gets more interesting as now it appears the new fares won’t start until the autumn. So that is this year’s seaason still at the old prices.
There are mutterings that it is political rouse who knows as long as the fares come down, it would be good to have the fares over all the islands not just the Outer Hebrides doing the same.
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
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Ferry Fares Fall to the Outer Hebrides
February 26, 2008 on 9:36 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments
Interesting news today, the Scottish Government have announced the RET (Road Equivelent Tariff) is to be tested on the ferry routes to the Outer Hebrides (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7264040.stm). They are predicting a third reduction on the shorter ferry routes.
This has got to be good news for the tourist market, as it will make it cheaper for people to visit the islands and it has to be good for the people who live here, as we will be able to travel to the mainland for less.
I suspect, the people who will win the most are the haulage companies who bring just about everything here, are they going to reduce their prices by the predicted third fall in ferry costs? Are we going to see the cost of our groceries fall? I would love to think so but … The opportunity to make more profit, umm?
I am happy it will make getting clients here cheaper and going away to race more afordable. All we need now is for Cal Mac to start the long over due Sunday ferry.
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire
Surfs up in the Hebrides
February 12, 2008 on 10:12 am | In Kayak Surfing | No Comments
Ahhhh ! it is good to have been out in my boat again. Sunday saw the wrap round of the massive swell running on the west side, so the breaks on this side were working. We dropped into the water on the break at Tong and what a session.
Tong is a sand bar at the entrance of the river and is the longest break in the islands. You get on and exhausted, off three weeks later with a beard. It is a left hander which is usually fast and steep, Sunday, it was fast but not too steep, good for me as I hadn’t been in a boat for a while.
It was setty but when they were coming through there were enough to go round as it was a little busy with about seven people out.
So I am now looking at the predictors to see when the next swell is due, although I do need to paddle my sea kayak as the deadline for the guide book to the Outer Hebrides has been set and we need to get writing and taking pictures.
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire
Facinating Turns
February 9, 2008 on 11:08 am | In Sea Kayaking | No Comments
As I am sat here in the office, I am supposed to be working, well, it started as working, I was researching one of the books I am writing at the moment. I was looking at the history of adventure racing and was chasing round the internet to find Anna McCormack who is a professional racer, who I know from when I was racing. I wanted to e-mail her some questions.
It is fascinating to read about her exploits as a professional racer, I then realised I would be able to get her details from Karen Darke.
I can hear you asking where is this all going?
I sea kayaked with Karen, through the John Muir Trust’s Equal Adventure trips to Uist, so my search lead me to be looking at Karen’s web site. I am now sitting with a feeling of awe and inadequacy at what Karen has achieved, in the same breath it leaves me inspired to realise what you can really achieve. Read Karen’s book and I defy you not be be humbled and motivated.
Karen sea kayaking with seals off Uist
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire
It is Offical, Scotland is the best place in Europe for Sea Kayaking
February 5, 2008 on 5:09 pm | In Sea Kayaking | No Comments
Below is the link to the leaflet giving some ideas on the best paddling to be had in Europe.
As I read it I discovered there are a few places I am going to need to go to and get the boat wet. I was particularly drawn to the Northern Isles. This was helped after Rob from the Canoe Club was up there for work and managed to get a couple of paddles in and was blown away by the place.
The Best Sea Kayaking in Europe
Time to get the maps out and plan the summer’s expeditions
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire
Surf and Snow
February 3, 2008 on 3:26 pm | In Kayak Surfing | No Comments
When most people look at the weather forecast they see northeries and start getting out the winter clothes and complaining of the cold. Here it is slightly different as northerlies mean fantastic swell. So I had been watching the forecast all week and anticipating the great swell due to arrive here.
We watch a variety of sites but good one is magic seaweed, as with all these things you need to apply what is says with some local knowledge and the view of various other sites but it was predicting good waves.
So you can imagine how I felt when I woke on Saturday morning feeling terrible and it was difficult to get out of bed. Made worse by the thick covering of snow and three children desperate to go sledging on the golf course.
I dragged my corpse kicking a screaming to the sledge run and pulled Murray up and then rode down, for what seemed an eternity. Then it was back to the sofa and some shut eye, when the phone rang an Mike was on his way to change in the warm. Because we live so close to the break the house is the changing room and the shower and tea bar after.
I drove down to the break and found Donnie watching the break with Ian Lawson was out on his surf ski and Mike was quickly out as well. On a reasonable size day it makes a good spectator sport with some top thrashings being handed out. I still would have liked to have been out there but we laughed lots.
So I am doing a wind dance for more notherlies so I can get out there.
Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
Living in the world's biggest adventure playground - The Outer Hebrides
CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions
BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire
