Last day. Muirtown Locks to the North Sea.

Now many, if not most, folk who decide to paddle across Scotland, arrive at the top of Muirtown Locks, have a wee peek at the sea - by foot - pack up their kayak and go home. I mean - what's 1.7km when you have paddled nearly 100km - well it's the difference between being purist about this whole trip and .. well not being so purist .. and I'm sure you can guess where James stands on this one .. so ... the last 1.7km.

Here we go - and the reason I didn't have the strength to write about this last night was because it took us nearly three hours to travel this last section!

First of all - Muirtown Locks themselves. If you remember back a week or so to Neptune' s Staircase at Banavie, Muirtown represents the east coast equivalent - so the first thing the EBD required was a set of wheels. I couldn't face unpacking the car and assembling my bike, (the cold is taking hold and support team energy is low) but we found a grand set of 'Boy's Own Manual' style wheels to portage the kayak past the locks, across a reasonably busy road, across the swing bridge, through a gate, down a track and onto the pontoon at Muirtown basin.

Here waiting for us was the Inverness Press and Journal photographer - which was quite amusing if a little embarrassing - but as Armin has already spotted we have made it into the newspapers! (Thanks for the press release Mark!).

The EBD paddled the basin against a brisk north westerly wind and pulled out at Works Lock for the next portage challenge. Past the lock, along a track, across the railway line and the final sea gate was in sight.

By now the wind was whipping up the waves on the last wee section of canal to Clacknaharry Sea Gate and the rain was back - but nothing that these guys couldn't conquer. No pontoon to get back onto the canal here, so we carefully lowered the kayak onto the water, in they climbed and paddled up to the sea gate - they were there at last ... "but hang on you two - the water isn't salty - I thought this expedition was salt to salt."

AAAGGGHHHHH

Out with the kayak, across the canal path, down the rocks, across the SEAweed and onto the Beauly Firth and the North Sea - Yep - salty water!

It was sad to pack up the kayak and stow it away in it's bag for the last time, (as predicted Nick, the EBD don't want to give it back), but we indulged in some ridiculous end of trip photos first.

I'm sure there will be some reflective blog posts to follow and we will let you all know the final total for our fundraising, but just for now the EBD and support team want to say a big thank you to everyone who has sponsored us, encouraged us and shared our amazing journey. We hope you have enjoyed it as much as us, (but don't feel as weary).

Lots of love to all

from the EBD and me!