Arran Paddler.

On Wednesday it rained, and it rained some more, then it rained again. I know because this was the first day of a 3 day trip from Arran up towards Bute, but by Thursday night the weather was just great and all was forgotten, the tent was dry again and watching the sun set over Kintyre made the journey work out fine. Funny thing our summer weather....... This was to be a trip with company but what with one thing and another it ended up just myself, we where going to do a round Arran trip but solo I could get in a journey that has taken my fancy for a while now. So on a rainy morning peering out over the Clyde with everything grey I hit the water at 9am with a rough plan to head up the coast and out across to Inchmarnock. With enough food and water for 3 days the boat was heavy, the forecast said improving to dry, hope so..... I launched at the north side of Brodick bay at the end of the road to my house, this was to be as simple a journey as possible with little costs. The firs

The weather forecast:    South East Force 6, heavy rain.            Work cancelled. Perfect! Grieg and I headed to Pladda for some gnarly paddle play. Not a force 6 to start, we launched at the Yellow Port out into 1m waves and surf and maybe a force 4.  Staying off to the west to keep out of the flat water downwind of the Island we moved south and then across the causeway around to the east side into sheltered seas. Great place to get in some rolling practice before heading out into the big seas at the exposed south side of Pladda . The south side of the Island is rocky and unforgiving in strong onshore winds, large breaking surf onto the rough shore leaves us with a sense of caution and awe. Not a place to go swimming. Reflected waves mix with the wind waves and the sea gets chaotic and big with the wind rising. 2m waves with some breaking tops give us a great thrilling time, try as I might the photos just don't do it justice. This was definitely the most intens