SusExp 2009 Day 2: Uig to Portree (by road!)

Well, today’s been a funny first day of the expedition. We got up around 9am, probably should’ve been earlier, but the beds in White Wave Outdoor Centre were so comfy and we needed our beauty sleep. I made a To Do list and same made a lovely breakfast of uncooked porridge oats with water and powdered milk – uncooked oats new to me, and they were surprisingly tasty! We started getting ourselves together then went down to see John and Anne. After a coffee and a nice chat and letting them know our plans we started getting the gear together. I put our Patagonia and White Wave stickers on my boat and phoned various local producers and press people, while Sam sorted out kayaking stuff with John. After loads of wee bits and pieces we finally managed to get away at 1pm. So where were we going to go?? After checking the forecast which said southerly force 4 to 5, gusting 7, we decided we wouldn’t try to paddle from Staffin to Portree. After a wee think we decided to drive to Portree after dropping off a few posters in Uig and trying to pick up some beer from Skye Brewery (also in Uig) – unfortunately they’d run out!

We arrived in Portree, spoke to some local suppliers (Vanilla Skye, Portree Butchers, and Isle of Skye Bakery), got our food drop off from Skye Berries from the local food van, got some fish and chips, sat in a café look at maps, discussing emergency procedures and drinking coffee, then went to find a camp site. The latter a simple task you may say, an hour later we were still looking. In the end, after it started raining, we decided to go and camp in a forest just out of Portree, after a long decision making process.

There was nothing wrong with the decision but it was based on getting shelter from the rain, however, the forest wasn’t old enough so there was no cover that wouldn’t need extensive clearing of lower branches that were still alive, and it wasn’t raining anymore! Also we thought we might get dry wood, but it pored so hard earlier we had to cook on the petrol stove, and we hadn’t got any paddling done. Those things aside, it was a good day: we tested out some new equipment; got some food; worked out lots of safety stuff and I think we have a better plan for the remaining time. Sure, I didn’t want to have to drive anymore, but the weather hasn’t allowed us to stick to the plan, so we just have to do what we can. I’m just looking forward to getting on the water and into expedition mode – and leaving the car behind. There was a beautiful sunset which turned the black cullin in the distance and awesome orange-pink which in a way made the whole day worthwhile. Time for some more beauty sleep…