Day 11

Quite a big paddling day today.

We got on the water at 07:30 and headed onto a perfect Loch Ness. The sun hadn't yet properly risen but it was shirt-sleeves warm already. The water was mirror flat, there was barely a breath of wind and we were making great progress.

Our luck couldn't last though and after an hour of perfect conditions the wind started to blow in our faces. Later, the rain came and it was quite grey for a while. We pushed on and near enough exactly eight hours after leaving our camp we were at Fort Augustus at the south end of the loch. We portaged up past the locks, popped into the shop to pick up some food (we'd somehow nearly finished our 3kg of pasta) and then started paddling the section of the Caledonian Canal leading to Loch Oich. We made good progress, although hindered by having to portage two locks, and got to the beginning of Lock Oich at around 19:00. We had a quick second lunch before heading off onto the dusky loch. No wind and perfectly flat water to start with but quite quickly a moderate tailwind and some rain whipped up. We were pleased to have the wind at our backs for once and sped down the loch, under the bridge at the other end and back onto the canal.

Our target was to find Laggan Youth Hostel. We got ourselves to the appropriate section of canal for a fairly decent 20:30 but after having difficulties getting the boat around and finding suitable paths we didn't make it to the youth hostel until nearly 22:00. The facilities are excellent - This is being posted from the internet enabled computer that they have one of in every room!