UP AT 6.30am…Fiona’s coming to pick me up for a paddle board adventure at 7am..and it’s a beautiful morning already.
I have a coffee and prepare another to put in an insulated mug to take. I’m particularly keen to squeeze one out before I get in my wetsuit as, I get desperate, having a shit in a wetsuit isn’t going to be nice!
We drive up to Milarrochy and I’m impressed at my new electric pump. gets the board up while I fanny about getting the rest of myself ready.
An adventurous paddle awaits as we plan to go across towards the other side of the loch and visit a few islands we’ve not been to before. It’s quite a long way and when we get to Bucinch we land, have a coffee and wonder at the views and the loch in this amazing weather.
After paddling round some of the other islands we head back to Milarrochy. The wind picks up a bit and we’re OK ’til we pass Inchfad when it really starts getting choppy. So much so that we have to kneel on our boards to try and make any kinda progress. It’s hard going and when I try to get back on my feet, my right leg has gone numb and I fall straight of the back of the board. My first ‘deep water’ spill. I get back on the board without too much of a struggle and then realise I’ve lost my hat. Nevermind, I’ll grab another out my Wildcats’ mercy store….and I’ve never been so glad to hit the shore!
I’m home soon after 11am and help Margaret hang balloons and stuff round the garden for Matty and Catriona’s joint birthday celebrations. Matty was 40 last weekend and Catriona will be 42 on Tuesday…her 40th birthday was a non-event thanks to covid and lockdown, so this is a good opportunity to try and make up for it.
Matty’s still out on a run when Mikey rolls up. He helps with some more stuff and I get in the shower.Matty’s back when I get out the shower and Catriona, Will and the kids arrive soon after.
We have a great afternoon and enjoy the nice weather in the garden then I get on pizza duty. The pizzas go down a storm and it’s a nice, easy and sociable experience outside.
When it gets. bit windy and cold we head indoors and the kids go to bed. I marinade some chicken breasts to go on the grill later and a special sauce to go with with it and some salad in pitta breads.
We have a grand night – enjoy the flame grilled chicken later on…and by midnight everyone’s knackered!
