Tummel Triumphs! (NigelC)
This was our first adventure to an OCSG event in Bonnie Scotland. The journey was marred by a caravan tyre that exploded on the A1 and it took half an hour to remember where the caravan jack was and then change the wheel. Still, we did get a lovely pottery mug of tea each for £1 from a mobile café in the lay by. Much more civilised than the motorway. On the road to the north of Loch Tummel we stopped at the heavily advertised Queen's View. This is merely a hummock one can stand on and look down the loch. We knew we would get better views than this tourist trap. We stopped on the bridge over the river feeding the loch as this was an impressive foaming, sheet of white water with rocks poking through.
The sailing club we found down a narrow lane past a couple of small farmhouses. Eddie leapt out as we drew up and directed us to the far end of the site where the others were camped. As the grass was soft underfoot I took the slightly higher ground and turned the van so it was aimed at the exit. The clubhouse had a panoramic view of the loch with an open plan kitchen behind so we all forsook our personal cooking devices for the community of the cooking zone.
On Sunday there was a cruise to the dam at the east end of the loch. We had the wind largely behind us and we all sped along. Where the tree lined loch narrowed the winds became uncertain in strength and direction. There were two islands, the larger of which masked an array of huge static caravans until we were almost under their lee. In the clear largely calm air their dogs were clearly heard. On the south shore could be seen quite a few tents and fires as folk free camped and fished. There was an Espace type motor with a wooden canoe on it. Keith diverted to speak to them. It was an English couple from Edinburgh who stayed a night with us; they have an outrigger canoe but no sails. The Solway Dory men's eyes glinted in expectation of a sale.
The dam is hidden by a turn in the loch though the yard with its colourful diggers and cranes is rather glaring with the powerhouse behind them. We touched the flotsam barrier to prove we had gone all the way. Jan & DaveP found a little peninsular with heather and other pinky flowers as a lunch stop. It was extremely pleasant in the sun with just a faint breeze. Coming back the wind started to fail altogether and then pick up from other directions. I decided to paddle as soon as the wind failed and hence made better progress than the others who generally sat about digesting their lunch while awaiting the next gust. Some boats unleashed their electric outboard motors with varying degrees of expertise and discretion.
I managed to return on the other side of both islands, the larger of which had quite a party going on amidst its pine trees. A rubber canoe was headed there with three cases of lager as cargo. As we came to the wider waters the wind got up and we had to tack several times and use the full width of the water. We also looked hard at Port-an-Eileen on the north shore, which was very odd architecturally. It's a big house and not a port at all.
An excellent trip with no drama and wonderful scenery. We failed to spot the Queen's View from the water.
Group Outing (DaveM)
The first group outing was on Saturday afternoon. In view of the inclement weather, it was decided to make it a short sail from the clubhouse to the west end of the loch, where the River Tummel
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