New Bike
Sea Kayaking in Orkney
Biking with the girls around Loch Morlich
Canoeing with the girls on Loch Morlich
Camping with Colin the Campervan.
Showing posts with label seakayak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seakayak. Show all posts
Friday, September 4, 2015
Summer 2015
Well there was not much of a summer here in Scotland. I think summer was a Wednesday. The weather has been rubbish. Here are the best bits.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Kanu Messe 2010
I got the pleasure to attend the annual Canoe and Kayak Trade show Kanu Messe held in Nuremberg Germany last week. It is a show our company has attended for the last 5 years at least. It is a great opportunity to see alot of our suppliers in a few days. We get the chance to talk sales for last year, look at new products and try and take a stab in the dark for sales for next year.
We left on Monday and were in Nuremberg for Monday evening. I had had a bit of a cold and was still suffering a little from my ear op. The first full day of meetings was Tuesday.
These shows are great, we get a chance to speak to the owners and designers of the gear we sell in store. Above, here we are speaking to Robert Somer owner of Robson. They produce paddles as well as canoes and kayaks. Here we are discussing his new 16ft sea kayak due out early next year. This was the first one out the mould and was only produced on the Monday.
A new brand to pop up at the show was Totuga. They are producers for a company already so we know their quality. They will be producing a range of Touring and Fishing Sit On Tops to start with. Above, Steve is going through the range of Fishing SOTs for us.
Shred Ready were there on the SystemX booth and showing off there all Carbon Super Scrappy. They also had a great new range of the odds and sods you are always looking for from Select Designs. Look out for these in store very soon.
Sweet Prophecy Cag
It was great to catch up with Danny from Werner. Arguably the best Tech Rep in the business right now. He was going through some great ways to help us sell what is already an easy brand to sell. With his techniques we will sell even more Werner's.
Alex from Avoncraft who sell us Prijon kayaks amongst other things was there and proud of the new Prijon Pure range of whitewater Kayaks. Above he is telling Craig our Lancaster Store Manager the finer points of the Footrest System
Mad River had on display there new Journey 158. Maybe not an ideal boat for the UK Market. But I may have to eat my words.
One of the highlights of the show was the changes Palm have made to their range. Almost a complete revamp of all their cags. New colour ways and some unique new designs. Look out for these to hit the store in 2011
On the plus side all the features have stayed with all the cags and they have been replacements not additions. So this will make things a little easier to work out.
Lorna here trying on one of the 9 new woman's specific garments added to the 2011 range.
Ben the technical rep for Palm and Dagger Europe here going through the new products with us.
Yak were also on the case with some new colour ways and some new PFD's Pete Ford here showing off the new colourway on the Force Jacket.
Tahe Marine were there showing off a new entry level brand. Marine Fit. They also had there new Zegul Range of sea kayaks including this Bairdarka with Teak deck Fittings. The Zegal range comes in Carbon Kevlar and is truly stunning.
Gatz Canoes based in Germany were there and Olaf Gatz was there showing us just how string their Carbon Kevlar construction is by happily standing on this £2000.00 boat.
So that is my brief outline of KanuMesse 2010. We look forward to getting in the products and selling them over the next 12 months.
We left on Monday and were in Nuremberg for Monday evening. I had had a bit of a cold and was still suffering a little from my ear op. The first full day of meetings was Tuesday.
These shows are great, we get a chance to speak to the owners and designers of the gear we sell in store. Above, here we are speaking to Robert Somer owner of Robson. They produce paddles as well as canoes and kayaks. Here we are discussing his new 16ft sea kayak due out early next year. This was the first one out the mould and was only produced on the Monday.
A new brand to pop up at the show was Totuga. They are producers for a company already so we know their quality. They will be producing a range of Touring and Fishing Sit On Tops to start with. Above, Steve is going through the range of Fishing SOTs for us.
Shred Ready were there on the SystemX booth and showing off there all Carbon Super Scrappy. They also had a great new range of the odds and sods you are always looking for from Select Designs. Look out for these in store very soon.
Sweet Prophecy Cag
It was great to catch up with Danny from Werner. Arguably the best Tech Rep in the business right now. He was going through some great ways to help us sell what is already an easy brand to sell. With his techniques we will sell even more Werner's.
Alex from Avoncraft who sell us Prijon kayaks amongst other things was there and proud of the new Prijon Pure range of whitewater Kayaks. Above he is telling Craig our Lancaster Store Manager the finer points of the Footrest System
Mad River had on display there new Journey 158. Maybe not an ideal boat for the UK Market. But I may have to eat my words.
One of the highlights of the show was the changes Palm have made to their range. Almost a complete revamp of all their cags. New colour ways and some unique new designs. Look out for these to hit the store in 2011
On the plus side all the features have stayed with all the cags and they have been replacements not additions. So this will make things a little easier to work out.
Lorna here trying on one of the 9 new woman's specific garments added to the 2011 range.
Ben the technical rep for Palm and Dagger Europe here going through the new products with us.
Yak were also on the case with some new colour ways and some new PFD's Pete Ford here showing off the new colourway on the Force Jacket.
Tahe Marine were there showing off a new entry level brand. Marine Fit. They also had there new Zegul Range of sea kayaks including this Bairdarka with Teak deck Fittings. The Zegal range comes in Carbon Kevlar and is truly stunning.
Gatz Canoes based in Germany were there and Olaf Gatz was there showing us just how string their Carbon Kevlar construction is by happily standing on this £2000.00 boat.So that is my brief outline of KanuMesse 2010. We look forward to getting in the products and selling them over the next 12 months.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
SCA Touring Photo Comp 2010
So I have decided to enter the 2010 SCA Touring Photo Comp. Here are my potential entries. Just got to send them in before the deadline.
Morning Reflection - Loch Oich - May 2010
Lake View - Ullswater Lake District - Nov 2009
Woodland Launch - Loch Tay - Nov 2009
Flat Calm - Loch Ness - May 2010
Long Way Up - Loch Ness - May 2010
Drummond Hill View - Loch Tay - Nov 2009
Morning Reflection - Loch Oich - May 2010
Lake View - Ullswater Lake District - Nov 2009
Woodland Launch - Loch Tay - Nov 2009
Flat Calm - Loch Ness - May 2010
Long Way Up - Loch Ness - May 2010
Drummond Hill View - Loch Tay - Nov 2009
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Great Glen Canoe Trail
The trip was on. GairLochy to Dargarroch. We arrive to Gairlochy Lockgates around 8pm and found the British Waterways asigned campsite. It would of had a nice view of Ben Nevis if it was not for the mist.
We got up in the morning and were duley told we had get a License from Corpach. 12km back down the road. Mark went off to get them and I set about packing my boat. Terra Nova Laser Comp Tent, Mountain Hardwear Sleeping Bag, Thermarest, Crux Lite Stove as well as my MSR some of the kit list. I was travelling light but we were going to be comfortable for the next three days. I was paddling a North Shore Polar.
Loch Oich Camp Site.
Loch Lochy was first on the list. 17km of it. With now a late start we managed to get to the end by lunch time. Cuppa soups and a couple of sausage rolls and we were reday for the first portage. We carried rather than trolleyed. I wanted to weigh my boat but I reckon it was 35kg.ish. After Laggan Locks you go through the Laggan Avenue to get to Loch Oich. Our first overnight stop was the far end of Loch Oich.
25km done it was time to stop. We scouted the south bank and found a nice flat spot next to the Great Glen Way. A bike trip for another day. The morning saw some amazing early views. Before 7am the Loch was flat calm with mirrored views of the surrounding mountains.
The big push was on for day two. We decided we wanted to get as far up Loch Ness as possible to make for an easy last day. Loch Oich to Fort Augustus was a gentle Canal paddle with a couple of Lock portages. Trolleys worked well. We went for alight weight trolley instead of one of the heavier weight models on the market.
After the longest portage around Fort Augustus locks we were onto Loch Ness. 35km looks a long way away from a 16ft sea kayak. We were blessed with flat calm condidtions and we managed 30km that day. Including the 9km of the canal we had made a fair dent into Loch Ness. Finding a camp spot was hard. The south shore was rocky and steep. We found what was the closest we could find to a camp spot and stopped for the night. That day we had seen Tornados flying low over our heads. A Channock Choppers flew low over the loch when we we having dinner and an RNLI Lifeboat went belting up the Loch before we went to bed. Remote wilderness trip this is not.....
The last day and we had decided we would get up early and make the final 20km ish push and get back to Perth at a reasonable time. We left camp at 7.40am and headed for Urquhart Castle. We had woken to a Southerly wind so with the wind behind us the last leg was going to be easy so long as the wind held......
Urquhart Castle was 3km from the camp spot. Now on the north side of the Loch we skirted Drumnadrochhit and carried on. The kms breezed passed with the wind behind us, until we got near the head of the loch. The winds started to blow round in circles. We had the wind on the back of our necks and we could see a rain shower blowing directly towards us.
We had reached then end!! Just a short couple of kms to get to the take out. Through Loch Dochfourand along the Canal. A great trip. Not wilderness but very nice to get back in a sea kayak after a long break out of a boat. Total distance 75kms Average Speed 5.3kph. Total Hrs paddling 14hrs.
We got up in the morning and were duley told we had get a License from Corpach. 12km back down the road. Mark went off to get them and I set about packing my boat. Terra Nova Laser Comp Tent, Mountain Hardwear Sleeping Bag, Thermarest, Crux Lite Stove as well as my MSR some of the kit list. I was travelling light but we were going to be comfortable for the next three days. I was paddling a North Shore Polar.
Loch Oich Camp Site.
25km done it was time to stop. We scouted the south bank and found a nice flat spot next to the Great Glen Way. A bike trip for another day. The morning saw some amazing early views. Before 7am the Loch was flat calm with mirrored views of the surrounding mountains.
The big push was on for day two. We decided we wanted to get as far up Loch Ness as possible to make for an easy last day. Loch Oich to Fort Augustus was a gentle Canal paddle with a couple of Lock portages. Trolleys worked well. We went for alight weight trolley instead of one of the heavier weight models on the market.
After the longest portage around Fort Augustus locks we were onto Loch Ness. 35km looks a long way away from a 16ft sea kayak. We were blessed with flat calm condidtions and we managed 30km that day. Including the 9km of the canal we had made a fair dent into Loch Ness. Finding a camp spot was hard. The south shore was rocky and steep. We found what was the closest we could find to a camp spot and stopped for the night. That day we had seen Tornados flying low over our heads. A Channock Choppers flew low over the loch when we we having dinner and an RNLI Lifeboat went belting up the Loch before we went to bed. Remote wilderness trip this is not.....
The last day and we had decided we would get up early and make the final 20km ish push and get back to Perth at a reasonable time. We left camp at 7.40am and headed for Urquhart Castle. We had woken to a Southerly wind so with the wind behind us the last leg was going to be easy so long as the wind held......
Urquhart Castle was 3km from the camp spot. Now on the north side of the Loch we skirted Drumnadrochhit and carried on. The kms breezed passed with the wind behind us, until we got near the head of the loch. The winds started to blow round in circles. We had the wind on the back of our necks and we could see a rain shower blowing directly towards us.We had reached then end!! Just a short couple of kms to get to the take out. Through Loch Dochfourand along the Canal. A great trip. Not wilderness but very nice to get back in a sea kayak after a long break out of a boat. Total distance 75kms Average Speed 5.3kph. Total Hrs paddling 14hrs.
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