Well we managed to give the 2008 paddling season a suitably Viking send off! 
I never knew quite so many EEKCC members were fire worshippers...!
The Pressy Paddle started out normally enough with us all managing to squeeze into the car park to off load the boats (even if there had to be some artistic parking and one poor soul exiled to the grass verge!). Once everyone got sorted out we were off on to a flat calm loch, well almost everyone - Kenny and John L seemed to have a wardrobe malfunction involving a spraydeck but this is a family oriented site so I'll say no more - and perhaps John G's trousers are best not remarked upon - the photos will tell all... 
We headed out to the island then round in to the hidden loch to see if there was any ice left - only a very little bit in the reeds - so we could explore, well paddle round and admire the reflections and enjoy the peace and quiet, with the occasional song from John G and cry of "When's lunch, I'm hungry!" from various small boys! 
We took pity on the small boys and returned to the island for our picnic.
All started well enough with the advance party establishing a beach head for the main fleet. Landing was progressing until...
OH NO! There was a splash, a cry and fits of laughter as Lindsay decided to test the water temperature - COLD! 
Once Lindsay had been suitalbe sypathised with the serious business of lunch commenced. Various stoves and other cooking appliances appeared along with various comestibles. John G, being the gentleman we all know him to be decided that Lindsay must be cold and that a fire would be "a good thing". Well much wood of varying degrees of dampness was gathered and duly "lit" with the assistance of a fuel pellet from Gavin. There was much blowing and puffing and varois bits of sage advice offered but eventually John coaxed a small glow out from under all the steam and smoke. Oh how we enjoyed looking at it! 
Unfortunately the small glow is a shy creature and it promptly ran back under the steam - the smoke having got bored and wandered off to see what Stuart was cooking up, closely followed by Heather and the various small boys! It was sausages on rolls apparently! No-one saw them right enough as all the youngsters seemed to hide them as fast as Stuart produced them.!
Meanwhile back at the "fire", John was not willing to admit defeat and gathered yet more wood to try and coax the small glow with! Kenny decided that sterner measures were needed and decided to emply Stuart as a pair of bellows! This had some effect but clearly wasn't up to Kenny's high standards so... Kenny grabbed hit sit mat. Well we thought - that will burn well! But no - he used it as a fan instead (boring!). Mind you he did manage to keep very warm by demonstrating various ways of fanning in various degrees of vigour! 
Finally technology had to make an appearance and Lindsay's (see we're back to Lindsay now) pump was pressed into service as a set of bellows! However, technology is sometimes not all it's cracked up to be and Kenny reverted to the old Karimat fan technique to great success.! At last a fire to be proud of was born - just in time to go home! 
Oh well, all good things come to an end and it was with heavy hearts we left the island to head for the cars once again! 
After yet more car shuffling we were on the road to the pub and a very good little quiz organised by Billy! 
We all enjoyed the various rescue techniques that were acted out (some real acting talent but some people need to see me later for some referesher classes - you know who you are!)
Well that's the end of another year's paddling, we've had some great times - see you all next year!
Paddlers:
- Gavin
- John G
- Lindsay
- Jim
- Lauren
- Kenny
- John L
- Billy
- Jean
- Heather
- Davy
- Chris
- Lewis
- Mike
- Steve B