Trip Reports and Blog
White Water Kayaking Repair Kit
After years of paddling down river and figuring out what to have in your repair kit I started to get a good ballance (I think) of what you should have with you on the river to sort out most issues.
Here are all the bits listed in my kit starting at the top left and going clock-wise:
- 900ml food container
- Compact bike repair tool
- Small pliers with pouch
- Cable ties
- Pocket blow torch
- Cork
- Penciles
- Flash bang
- Stanley knife
- Ductape
- Some hot glue sticks
- Pruning saw
Somewhat more compact than a sea kayaking repair kit. The pruning saw and the ductape are not going into the box but into the dry bag. It certainly helps if you have a creek boat with a back hatch.
Kayaking the Middle Findhorn
I have decided to do some more grade 3 rivers in the next wee while and take folk out who haven't been on grade 3 before or have been only very little. So the first one would be the Middle Findhorn.
I consider the Middle Findhorn as a good intro to grade 3 as most of it is a 2. That way you can relax in beween. It all went pretty well. We got out quite a few times to have a look at rapids like House Rock, the Gorge and Carnage Corner (also known as Fluffy Bunny Corner by some). There were also some strainers half way across the river un the upper section half way beween Ardclach and Logie Bridge. Made my eyes a wee bit wide when I saw them because they were in the way of the usual line of river right. Guess they have to be removed if the river dropps the water a wee bit more since they would be some real denger then.
House Rock was a bit interesting too since it doesn't usually push you that hard onto the rock without going over it. So hitting river left was some hard work and made Eddy change his plan just a few metres before he hit it. Well he almost mounted that rock. Other from that it was pretty eventless and some good fun; just what you want on a nice Sunday trip on the river.
Hillwalking near Glenelg
After some river kayaking and sea kayaking I had a day hillwalking at the west coast of Scotland near Glenelg. The aim was to get a view from the top and according to the forecast it was going to happen too.
Anyway, after a quick cuppa and some blether we headed over to Armisdale to do Beinn Sgritheall. Pretty soon it was clear that it not going to be clear that soon and we popped on our waterproofs. First going up to Bealach Arnasdail and then up some steep ground to the summit. So much about getting a great view to Knoydart. We had to drop down to about 600m to get any view but it was still worth it as you can see. I would say it was a pretty good day and even though we had to put waterproofs on for a bit we didn't get too wet. Maybe 3rd time lucky and will get a few next time from Beinn Sgritheall.
Mountain Biking at Balblair
Went up to Balblair to check out the black run there and have to say just one word. Wow! Dry grippy lime stone all over the place and the weather was cracking just to top it off.
Some of that steeper technical uphill was a wee bit of a pain but the payoff was those downhills and the boardwalks were sweet in comparison to those slimy planks in Laggan. Unfortunately Simon and I didn't manage to do all of the black runs due to lack of time but hey, there is always another day to fall off. The piccie shows Simon rolling down a slab very slick.
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Sea kayaking repair kit
Sometimes I get asked what to put in a repair kit. I have messed about with my repair kit for some time now and believe this is about as good a repair kit as anyone would need it. There is probably still some more to put in but I still haven’t found a way to fit a chainsaw or a JCB inside my kayak. I would advise to modify a repair kit to individual needs.
My repair kit consists of 2 boxes, a smaller 900ml day trip repair kit and a 2.0 litre expedition repair kit. On expeditions I always stick both boxes in my day hatch.
Day Trip Repair Kit (clock-wise)
Strong big bin liner- Bunge cord
- 2 spring toggles
- Flash bang
- Thin strong cord
- Cork
- Rubber gloves
- Small pliers
- Cut-out plastic from a milk container
- Zip ties
- Bike repair tool kit
- Pencil with some ductape wrapped around it
- Pocket brow torch
- Stanley knife
- Sail tape
- Fire lighter
- 2 component epoxy
- Grub screws
- Zinc coated wire
- Nuts and bolts
Additional to this a full roll of ductape and denso tape (nasty brown/green tape), which you get at any DIY store.
Expedition Repair Kit (clock-wise)
Gloves- Cut out from an aluminium juice can protected with ductape
- White spirit
- Pencil
- Wooden stick for mixing
- Different lengths of zip ties
- Sand paper
- Rough and fine saw blades
- Cork
- Tube for tent poles
- Tub from film spool
- Black witch
- Heavy compact pliers
- Fibreglass
- Mixing tub
- Superglue
- Hardener
- Resin
Additional to that it might be handy to have a skeg cable.