Hooray! On the move again. After being pinned down in Portsoy for 3 days with F6 northerlies and heavy swell, we made a break for it yesterday and despite some dramatic clapotis in the first few miles we managed 30 miles to Inverallochy, just south of Fraserburgh.
So good to get back in the water!
Portsoy was a nice place to get stuck in however and we now know all the cafes, pubs and bakers pretty well – so if you are visiting and want some tips, let me know. Highlight though had to be a lightening fast visit from my brother, Mike and his daughter Hannah. They had travelled from London by train and then hired a car to come and see us only to have to turn around the next day and head back! So great to see them if only for a few hours.
Ok so the journey to Inverallochy was uneventful, we pulled into the old harbour and pitched our tents just metres form the water. Just a few hundred yards off shore lays the wreck of a prawn trawler. It had run aground five years ago and the sea has since managed to tear open it’s hull on one side. Talking to some local fisherman, apparently the skipper had fallen asleep as he came into Fraserburgh Harbour. No one hurt except the skippers ego.
I said the journey to Inverallochy had been uneventful but that changed when we landed. The same fishermen had popped down the harbour because they had had a call from a friend in Fraserburgh to say that a pod of Orca were heading our way. We spent the next half hour watching between 5-7 Orca making their way south. Stunning!
This morning we were up at 4am to catch the last of the flood tide round Rattray Head. We were clearly back in seal territory (suspect it wouldn’t be for long if the Orca appeared here). We saw several large colonies. We paddled 34 miles and as we pulled into Newburgh this evening we paddled up the river a few hundred yards to camp and were greeted by the sight of around 200-300 seals! Talking with the gillie, apparently they love the area because of the trout that make their way up river to spawn.
He also cleared it for us to camp in a great little spot. Back on the water again at 6am and off to Aberdeen for breakie.
Midlifekayak 
jane has just given me a coaching session on sending messages to you much of what i tried to send did not reach you which is due to my incompetence. in future it may work . just watch this space! Dad
It worked Dad!
Great progress chaps!! How fantastic to see the whales and seals.
Before you know it you will be back in England! Amaaaaazzzzzinnng!
Have you an ETA getting to the NE – either near Hartlipool or further down like Whitby? Love Jan and Tony