Loch Morar - "Did we bring the bear?"

24th August 2012
We left the hostel this morning and headed the few miles to Tyndrum and the Green Welly for breakfast. Those that travel this part of the A82 will know the Green Welly for the one stop get all you need services. There is a petrol station, food shop, gift shop, cafe and a larger restaurant.

After breakfast we called in at Fort William, Dylan was looking for a long pair of water proof socks, none were to be found as one shop assistant after another recommended the next shop along. Once the next recommendation was "Try Inverness", we gave up and took the A830 towards Malaig and Lock Morar.

Once on the north shore of Morar we found the car park (696 932), I had hoped to use, roped off! Having found a place near by to leave the car, we waited for the the rain to ease off before loading up the canoe.We managed to paddle east for about 3km before the rain became to much and we headed for the shore to shelter and brew up.

Around Brinacory Island we came across the only other canoe on the loch, the two occupants had camped near the bothy the night before and had had a good days fishing by the look of it.

We continued east to the end of the loch, a good 17km paddle for an afternoon and by the time we could see the bothy at Oban we were ready for a good nights rest in it. Oh what disappointment when we found it locked up, apparently it gets locked in the deer stalking season. So plan 'B', tents pitched in front of the bothy and then they hit us, a billion midges. We tried to cook out of their way on the beach, but we had already alerted them to our presents, I quickly ran to my tent, meal and hot drink in hand. Once inside I discovered a nice layer of midges floating in my cup. Well that was it for the night we were surrounded. We passed the time with a game of "Pass the Pigs" on my iPhone, with Dylan shouting from his tent when he wanted me to stop shaking the phone and roll his go.

Just as I drifted off to sleep I was awoken by Dylan talking in his sleep from the other tent. Did he really say "Did we bring the bear?". he said it in such a clear voice, but when I asked him what he said a rather sleepy voice answered "Don't worry I talk s**t when I'm tired". Then be must of dropped straight off back to sleep and in a clear voice I heard, "I wish we had brought our pets". Oh great I'm camping in the middle of nowhere with a crazed man in the next tent!

Heading to the bothy