Exploring Etive

It started with with a bang, or rather a racing stream of tide that danced and twirled. Liking at the edges of our launch site not that far from the notorious ‘Falls of Lora’ tidal race where hardy kayakers flock to pit their skills against the twice daily maelstrom. Although the water was definitely flowing it was thankfully much less strong at our put in point at Taynuilt on the southern shore of Loch Etive. Loch Etive may not be as renowned as the more famous Glen Etive, but it is flanked by the equally towering peaks of the Ben Cruachan and Ben Starav, both reaching over 1000m. The setting bulges with Scottish mountain scenery. Distant peaks towering into into the equally distant horizon, clad in the gentlest hint of heather just beginning to don it’s purple mantle. Wild glens dotted with tumbling ruins reaching down to the water’s edge as thought they are reaching out from a time long past. Under the gaze of the steadfast gaze of the mountains and the more nonchalant glances from grazing sheep, we slip our board onto the water and just like that we are on and adventure. The world tilts a little, from being aligned to the plans, maps, gear in the car park to the elemental. It is just us, our boards, the water and the mountains now. The projections, imaginings and what ifs replaced by lived experiences.

The first hour is hard work. The still running tide tugs incessantly at our boards, like a dog intent on returning home. But soon it will turn in our favour, happily as it does so the wind drops away to nothing and the landscape around us is revealing in double. The mountains floating on top of their perfect reflections. The point where water meets land becomes a vanishing point in the distance and a siren call onwards into the depths for the loch.