March 31, 2008
The weather has been extremely volatile over the past week, but we have made good progress along the west coast of Scotland by converting frequently from travel on land and water. Our boats feel like super-sized transformers as we make the modifications to switch into a new medium of travel. It takes about 40 minutes to remove the bicycles and trailers from the boats, assemble them, and affix the boats to the trailers. The reverse procedure is a little quicker.
It’s been important paying attention to the tides and currents in the channels and inlets we’ve paddled through. Tidal rips can create powerful boils and sucking vortexes as they rush through restricted passages. A particularly dangerous section of water is at the mouth of Loch Ettive where the waters flow at almost 20 km/hr during spring tides. Whirlpools, boils and holes form as the water flushes through this narrow passage (More info at http://www.fallsoflora.info/). The turbulent waters can be negotiated in a white water kayak, but with our less-nimble rowboats, we opted to wait for slack tide to negotiate these waters.
 A highlight has been getting to view so many castles from the vantage of the water. Many of these ancient fortified buildings are built near or on the water as a means of enhancing security. One of our favourites that we passed is Castle Stalker, situated on a tiny islet near the village of Port Appin. This castle was first built by the Clan MacDougal around 1320. It was then occupied by John Stuart who further added to the castle in the 1400s. It is still a private residence, testament to the resilience of stone construction.
Currently we are in Largs, just near Glasgow, Scotland. If all goes well we will reach England by next week.
March 24, 2008
Lochs and Locks: Rowing across Scotland
Well, we’ve made it across Scotland in our rowboats via the Caledonian Canal. This 96 km interconnected waterway runs diagonally across Scotland (connecting the North Sea with the Atlantic) and is comprised of man-made canals linking a series of lakes. The biggest of these lakes, Loch Ness, harbours the greatest danger due to frequent storms and icy waters.
Our previous student question asked whether we should row across Loch Ness or bypass it on our bicycles. The consensus decision was we should brave the waters of Loch Ness in our rowboats. We pleased to announce this was the better. The weather was relatively good and we made excellent progress on this 30 km crossing. The road, on the other hand, (visible from the lake) was narrow, hilly, and very busy.
Last week’s question was a logistical challenge regarding the amount of fuel we should purchase for our camp stove. Our dilemma related to the scarcity and expense of white gas in Britain. The winning vote (83%) was for us to purchase 3000 ml of fuel when we reach Largs, Scotland.
The bright folks from Margaret Ave. School in Waterloo, Ontario emailed us with an excellent suggestion which we include below:
Dear Colin and Julie,
After a lengthy discussion,the Margaret Avenue Geography Club suggests that you buy a limited amount of fuel but take the initiative now to buy a new stove. We think you will have even more problems finding white gas fuel as your journey continues. We have gone on the MEC website and have found a lightweight stove that will burn any fuel. Given the fact that you will be able to find cheaper fuels along your journey,the savings will pay for the new stove in the long run,not including the savings in time and effort. Here is the model we are suggesting and the MEC catalogue description.
MSR WhisperLite Internationale Stove
$69.00 CAD
Made in USA
MEC Product Number: 1501-055
A reliable, fully field-maintainable, and fuel-versatile liquid fuel stove for globetrotters.
Goodluck:Yana,Victor,Rebekah,Hayden,Gabriel,Danja,Khoa,Eleni,Eric, Rory and Kasia (The Typer)--Mr.Hill
March 17, 2008
After a week of hard work we’ve made it down to Inverness, the start of the Caledonian Canal. From here we row inland on the canals towards the west side of Scotland and through Loch Ness.
One of the highlights of our journey so far has been the animals. We have seen red deer, pheasants, buzzards, hawks, rabbits, seals, porpoises, cormorants and many other birds. We have also seen numerous domestic animals including three which have been bred in Scotland. The Border Collie is the most common dog in the Scottish highlands, and this black-and-white herder works with the farmers to round up the sheep and keep them from straying. Shetland Ponies, also bred in the far north of Scotland, are tiny horses ideally suited for the harsh windy climate of the Shetland Islands. Our personal favourite, is the Highland Cattle. These giant gentle cows have horns that can span two metres along with long locks of shaggy caramel hair.
This week we will be crossing Loch Ness. Although it is unlikely we will be adding any monsters to our collection of animals spotted, this area along the edge of the highlands is reputed to be a wild landscape. For those of you who voted in last week’s “Choose your Own Adventure”, the final consensus is that we will row across the lake.
Question for Week 4 - (posted Mar. 31)
Many hazards need to be considered while travelling on water. At the border of Scotland and England at the Solway Firth Julie and Colin may encounter a new obstacle; quicksand. The Solway Firth is a large bay over 10 km wide and when the tide goes out great expanses of mud and are exposed which can leave boaters stranded. Shifting quicksand is situated throughout the bay meaning that an attempt to slog through the mud could be fatal.
Should Julie and Colin take the shorter route of rowing across the Solway Firth or travel a much greater distance on their bicycles to circumvent this bay?
Answer for Week 4 Question
Last week 67% of you voted to row across the Solway Firth.
Question for Week 3 - (posted Mar. 23)
In total Julie and Colin are lugging more than 250 kg. At times, when rowing into waves or pedalling uphill, progress is a struggle. They have an air mattress which is only used for creating a camping platform between their boats for tenting on the water. Currently conditions are too rough for this. However they are uncertain when the conditions will become appropriate.
Should they carry the air mattress in their boats on the chance that optimal conditions will soon appear or should they send it ahead to a region where they expect warmer/calmer weather?
Answer for Week 3 Question
Last week 60% of you voted to send the catamaran air mattress ahead.
Question for Week 2 - (posted Mar. 17)
Julie and Colin are camping and cook their meals on a small stove. The MSR stove takes a type of gas (white gas) that is difficult to find in Scotland. In Inverness, which is an outdoor mecca, they found the fuel after visting four outdoor stores and bought 2,000 ml, which will last approximately 2 weeks. This will be more than enough to last until the team reaches Largs. In Largs they'll have to buy more fuel but they need to figure out how much.
Should they travel light and buy 500 ml, which is just enough to take them to the next small town?
Should they buy 3,000 ml, which will last for 3 weeks and allow the team to reach the larger city of Liverpool?
Should they buy 6,000 ml, which will last for 6 weeks and allow the team to reach London?
Things to take into consideration:
The fuel is heavy and it takes up a lot of space. The team will mostly be rowing now and with the bikes in the boats there is little extra room. The fuel is also expensive, costing 11 times more than in Canada.
The team will likely have difficultly finding fuel in small towns, and then they will not be able to eat their food supplies.
Even in larger cities, such as Liverpool, it may take a lot of time to find stores that sell the fuel.
Answer for Week 2 Question
Last week’s question was a logistical challenge regarding the amount of fuel we should purchase for our camp stove. Our dilemma related to the scarcity and expense of white gas in Britain. The winning vote (83%) was for us to purchase 3000 ml of fuel when we reach Largs, Scotland.
The bright folks from Margaret Ave. School in Waterloo, Ontario emailed us with an excellent suggestion which we include below:
Dear Colin and Julie,
After a lengthy discussion,the Margaret Avenue Geography Club suggests that you buy a limited amount of fuel but take the initiative now to buy a new stove. We think you will have even more problems finding white gas fuel as your journey continues. We have gone on the MEC website and have found a lightweight stove that will burn any fuel. Given the fact that you will be able to find cheaper fuels along your journey,the savings will pay for the new stove in the long run,not including the savings in time and effort. Here is the model we are suggesting and the MEC catalogue description.
MSR WhisperLite Internationale Stove
$69.00 CAD
Made in USA
MEC Product Number: 1501-055
A reliable, fully field-maintainable, and fuel-versatile liquid fuel stove for globetrotters.
Goodluck:Yana,Victor,Rebekah,Hayden,Gabriel,Danja,Khoa,Eleni,Eric, Rory and Kasia (The Typer)--Mr.Hill
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