Spent yesterday cruising on Loch Etive along with Ian and new Surveyor owners David and Tim. Ian was delivering the craft and training both guys and I couldn't resist re-visiting such a spectacular place again after our camping trip there during the Scottish Hoverin back in May.
I trailered up to Taynuilt and launched there, heading down the Loch the 7 miles or so to Connel Bridge to meet up with the others who were training on the sand/gravel beach next to Oban airport (Ardmucknish bay). Unfortunately I reached the bridge just on low tide when the Falls of Lora were at their most active. I didn't fancy the look of them (coward!) so parked up under one end of the bridge and wandered along the shore towards the others (only about 400m or so). After getting around half way I looked back and realised the Falls were calming down slightly (still quite impressive though!). I passed through them next to the opposite bank where the water was less turbulent (flow rate must have been 12knots or more though). There are whirlpools, standing waves and all sorts of other water "features" all around the area.
David and Tim had completed their basic training when I arrive so, as it was a beautiful day, we decided to cruise up to Taynuilt for practise. We had to pass back up through the Falls again - a bit of a baptism of fire for new pilot David (he managed excellently - a natural!). The Falls look like a 100m wide giant bath drain as the water accelerated into the "hole" in the centre! After a cup of tea and a biscuit (Kelly Kettle strikes again!) and a sit around in the warm sunshine at Taynuilt we set off back down the Loch again to Dunstaffnage Marine through the bridge. After yet more tea and sitting around we bid farewell to David and Tim (although I'm absolutely certain we'll see them again pretty soon!). Ian then drove up to Taynuilt where I would meet him.
By this time the tide has reversed and the Falls were active once again! The water was being pushed back up over the falls this time making a completely different wave system!. A bit bumpy but no problem for a hovercraft! Further up the Loch there was a very strange area near an island where the water was travelling sideways
both ways at the same time in the same area - very odd and quite dizzying when you looked at it!
As it was still fairly early in the evening and I had to get rid of some fuel (
) so we decided to take a trip up towards the head of the Loch. We end up at the camp area we used in May. It was busy (there was one guy and his son with a a canoe wild camping
). After chatting for a while (and collecting some rubbish left there by some low-life!!!) we set off back down the loch towards the setting sun. We cruised down the opposite shore enjoying the warmth and sun. Even spotted a white tailed Eagle (I think - ornithology isn't my strong point but it was a BIG eagle'y type thing
).
With this kind of weather this area is unbeatable - beautiful water, spectacular mountains, beaches and wildlife everywhere AND almost completely empty and unspoilt (a hover paradise
).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4t8Q6KS-es#Note to self: remember to clean the camera lense properly BEFORE using it