We pulled into Inchree car park, nosed our way to the bar and joined our fellow paddlers who, arriving some 20mins earlier had claimed a corner of the bar and hoisted the ICC flag in the usual manner. So we got rid of the chip papers, mopped the beer from the table top and sat down.
Conversation was lively but, well let’s say….edit worthy. I couldn’t help but notice Andy, Paul and Tony and Andy gussling beer delivered in half gallon jugs and the table top was soon awash again. To save my knees from the constant drip of beer flowing from the table top edges, some grown ups drinking habits were deployed and a round of Laphroaig duly arrived.
It was good to see Torquil in fine fettle with his trade mark one-liners. This poor soul had just recovered from a real dose of manflu, a terrible affliction that gets us all once in a while……apart from women of course. They just don’t get it and never really appreciate the great suffering and pain inflicted on their men folk. It’s soon time to head for our shacks for a little night cap and some toast and cheese. Now Pete is one of your genuine men of the world, but whilst munching his toast and cheese, he remarked…”oooh this is posh toast and cheese”! This remark drew some funny looks so he explained, “in my neck of the woods, they never toast both sides”. Now this revelation may lose something in translation, but it certainly had us rolling all over the floor.
Malcolm and Bob arrived unsociably early the next morning and flitted between shacks partaking of Paul’s very tasty porridge in one and then with hungry expectations to Jo’s lodge for crispy bacon in the other.
So kit gathered, it’s off to paddle for the day…..the Etive. And a really good paddle it was too. On our return, everyone was very cold, hungry and dehydrated. John realising this, the kind fellow that he is, dished out the tins of Stella to rejuvenate his fellow paddlers.
Ok , picture this….. A damp ominous, pre-historic landscape with huge mountains, nasty looking beasties and large valleys cut deeply into the hills by the flow of huge volumes of water forcing a path down over waterfalls, heading for the seaward pond. So the nasty looking beasties hopped into their boats and went for a swim. Well if I’d said we had a lovely paddle and then went to the pub, you’d never believe me….would you?
TO BE CONTINUED………………………. Note: Contribution by Ron
