Day 6. EBD not beaten ...

The EBD are not called that for nothing - the waves on Loch Ness may have made for unsafe kayaking, but the EBD were not beaten yet! Cue - Plan B!

Now, if I know one thing, it is that there are certain moments in a friendship when the best thing to do is to keep quiet and say nothing - and the knowledge that James was intending to put Plan B into action signalled one of those moments - so I kept quiet, (no doubt body language and facial expressions gave it away - but I said nothing - you wait until I tell you about Plan B.)

So, Plan B. Plan B was simple - walk sections where it was unsafe to paddle. What complicated it was that James decided that the kayak should come too - tricky when there is no water - but we had portaged around locks and up Neptune's Staircase - why not portage the last 5km to the end of Loch Ness where we could more safely put the kayak in the water again. Actually, carrying the kayak 5km along level ground is manageable - especially with my trusty bike to help - but level ground would involve walking along the A82 - mmmm. Ah - an alternative! A 12km walk on a wee side road - starting with 2.5km of very steep hill carrying kayak, in its bag, paddles etc (This is where I needed to keep quiet). James managed to convince El that this was going to work and up they went.

I have to admit I was impressed by how quickly they climbed, (perhaps powered by excess adrenalin left over from navigating those waves?), and it was not long before they reached the top of the hill and stopped for lunch. They were both tired - and after some soul searching, they decided to leave the kayak in my tender care, (in the back of the car), and went on by foot and bike.

We all ended up really enjoying the walk/cycle. Weather was amazing - purple with rain clouds one minute and gleaming with sunshine the next. There was a strong wind and the temperature was distinctly autumnal, but it was beautiful. I kept driving ahead and then walking back to meet them - glad to get some more exercise. A couple of hours or so and we were back on the main road beyond the top of the loch, stopped for a beer with Martin and partner Vivian, (also on the RNLI crew), and made our way back to our hostel.

It's a rest day tomorrow - thought we might go and explore Glen Affric - good cycling and walking, (rest?), and then we'll see what Thursday brings.

Day 6. Impressed?

Day 6. Tough, rough weather ...

Another blowy day dawned and we put all our kit together and made our way to rendevous with RNLI Martin who very kindly had offered to help us get the kayak into the water at the start of the day.

Landing/launching onto the loch at Drumnadrochit is complicated by private access roads and piers but Martin was able to keep us right.

The water looked pretty rough out in the loch, the hire boats had been instructed to stay in harbour but the EBD decided to give it a go. Martin showed us a good 'escape' route where the team could land if they felt that things were not going so well. And off they went again.

Sensing my increased level of anxiety, Martin offered to chum me along the A82, driving from one lay by vantage point to the next so that we could watch the EBD's progress from the shore.

The first sighting was enough for me to know that I wanted them out of the water asap - although the sun was shining the waves were huge, too big to be fun. There was nothing the EBD could do but plough on to their exit point about 4.5km away. We watched as James skillfully manouvered the kayak over one wave after another - it was difficult for Eleanor to paddle as well because James had to keep doing extra paddles and she could not see to keep in time. If her paddle was in the water at the wrong time then she could have accidentally sent them cross wave - not good. Poor El spent quite a bit of the time holding her paddle high up out of the water - just as well she has strong arm muscles!

The picture with the red arrow says it all! I tried to watch them through the binoculars but it was too scary.

The EBD were actually moving very fast, surfing waves that sent them shooting along. Now that I have them safely on dry land I have to admit that I saw some real Hawii FiveO moments there for a while. James is really impressed with how the kayak handled in these exceptional conditions - "it did everything we asked it to do and we felt in control of the boat - as good as any kayak I have been in." You said it would Nick (Pipe) - Advanced Elements coped with the elements!

At last they surfed onto the shore - glad to be out of the water and realising that there would be no more paddling for today. As it happens there was a large purple Nessie on the shore - a good photo opportunity! Thanks to Martin for all the photos and for looking after us so well - again it must be said - what a guy!

Day 6. More homework ...

Was the weather rough? Yes it was very very rough and the waves were 2.5m. I didn't enjoy the kayaking today because it was too rough and I felt scared but when we got out we went on a cycle ride which I really liked. I'm really unhappy that the trip is nearly over because it is very exciting. I'll be back on Islay on Saturday. I have got you a present for the whole class. It's not very exciting but it's better than nothing! From Eleanor.

Sally says - read about Day 6 to find out more and see some scary pictures!

Day 5. Extra photos.

Here are a couple of extra pics that belong to Day 5 - Martin from the Loch Ness RNLI crew is their press officer, so as well as always being ready to save people, he is also always at the ready with his camera - and here are a couple of photos he took of the EBD arriving at the RNLI slipway.

Thanks for sending these to us Martin - some pretty good ones for Day 6 too!

Day 5. Phew...

After an age of waiting I eventually spotted the EBD rounding a headland, phoned Martin with good news and hot footed it to the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Drumnadr..... where we had arranged for the EBD to land. El and James were weary but fine - glad to be on dry land after 30km of unrelenting wind and waves.

Even though they were travelling with the waves

James says it is still really hard work - certainly a test for paddlers and kayak. I was never so glad to see them.

Martin from the RNLI is the most amazing guy - he was very reassuring and a brilliant support team for the anxious support team! He got the EBD sorted with hot showers, cups of tea and gave us a tour of the lifeboat station! He's even going to meet us tomorrow morning - weather permitting, and help launch the EBD off for the final 7km of Loch Ness. What a guy!

Day 5. The nasty middle bit.

The met office were right about the weather. When I met them for lunch the water conditions had changed but the Extraordinarily Brave Duo said they were fine to go on - hugging the shore and riding the waves.

I got on the phone to MY support team - Wonderful Martin of RNLI Loch Ness - full of good, calm advice - how many times did we speak during the next couple of hours Martin?! I made my way to Urquhart Castle, climbed up the biggest tower I could find to give me the best view down the loch, and settled down for an unbelievably anxious couple of hours wait. I could see the water getting rougher, visibility becoming poorer and the rain setting in. On a lighter note, I became chief 'tower photographer' as tourists kept asking me to take jolly group pics of them attempting not to fall off the ramparts.

I was in mobile and radio contact with the EBD, (Extraordinarily Brave Duo), but the said mobile and radio were safely stowed away in a waterproof, floating bag in case of emergency - and not easy for James to get to when the water was rough - which it was - the EBD say the waves were about 1.5m high in places and insist they were only mildly worried for a very short period of time ... but ... I'm sure there's something they are not telling me... some secretive monster sighting perchance - another stranded sheep?

Day 5. Leaving Fort Augustus.

After a wet and windy overnight camp at Fort Augustus we managed to sort ourselves fairly quickly in the morning and the guys were off and paddling by 10.00am. The canal below the Fort Augustus Locks looks like a walk in the park - with ducks and swans decorating the water.

Needless to say El was more interested in getting cygnets to feed out of her hand than sorting paddles etc but eventually she gave the camera back to me and yet again I waved them goodbye - more anxious this time than on other parts of the journey because I knew the weather was due to get worse.

Having checked out the met office forecast, James made the decision to paddle on the north side of the loch - the side of the main A82 road to Inverness. We had been hoping that the weather would be good enough for them to travel on the much quieter and prettier south side but the forecast dictated a change of plan - safety first.

A quick call back to Islay, and Beastie very kindly got in touch with the lifeboat crew at Drumnadroichit, (sorry - too late and too tired to check spelling - someone do it for me please), just to let them know that El and James were around on the loch. We had already given our itinerary to the Coastguard when we registered to use the canal. The weather can change in a flash on Loch Ness and we knew it was worth making our safety net as secure as possible!

As I watched them out of sight they began to look awful small in this huge 37km long stretch of water...

Day 5. Eleanor's homework!

Dear Primary 6/7 at Port Charlotte here is my homework!

We've been camping a lot which is really fun but it is always rainy at night. The best bit so far was the canal between Neptune's Staircase and Gairlochy because it was really pretty and very quiet. When we are paddling we have lots of little snacks especially Oaty bars and chocolate. No we don't cook marshmallows on a fire but I wish we could. (It's always too rainy to light fires! Sally). The locks are all very very pretty and I'll bring back lots of photos. For breakfast I usually have tattie scones and baked beans. I don't really know how I paddle so far but once you get into the rhythm it is easier and also I listen to my MP3. It is really hard work, at the moment I am really tired because I have slight motion sickness from the waves on Loch Ness. I tried to kidnap Seumas as bait for Nessie and Nigel, (her husband), but he ran away. Yes, Molly, the hot chocolate is very nice, it is Cadbury's. No unfortunately we did not bring a fishing rod but I did see a 2ft salmon jump. Yes Molly I am smiling - I wonder why?! Mostly I am pretty warm when I am paddling but today my feet got cold because the water in Loch Ness was so cold. For tea we have pasta or baked potatoes. No, Beth, as a matter of fact I haven't been eaten by flying Loch Ness monsters but I have made very good friends with Nessie and Nigel and I don't think I ever want to come back! No, Calum, we haven't - but nearly - the waves were pretty big today - about 1.5m. The weather has been OK but sometimes rubbish. Am I tired at night? - what do you think?!! I will definitely say Hi to Nessie and Nigel for you but I won't tell them your addresses otherwise they might come and eat you. Bye, bye to you all. Have a nice time, from Eleanor.

Day 5. Super hero!

Read the badge! Clare awarded it to Eleanor - and after today's paddle on Loch Ness she certainly deserves it - wish I had one for James too!