Loch Ness Canoe Challenge.
“Round Loch Ness in Eighty Hours”   

a.   My name is John Forsyth.  My chosen charity is Alzheimer Scotland.   I am Scottish,  living by Loch Ness.  My personal challenge - to raise donations for this very worthy cause - is to canoe round Loch Ness - approximately 50 miles (following the shore line) in 80 hours.   Am 77 years old, fit in body and spirit but glimmerings of Alzheimers are on the horizon.  It seems we all know someone who has been affected by Alzheimers.     Forget about me.  I’m fine.  

Recently purchased a new touring canoe - as I am giving up driving (in case of causing an accident).   My lovely new canoe has arrived.   What to call her ?   I am hoping to launch on the morning of 27th May - weather permitting.   (In the final stages of my challenge, I found her name on a yacht and (with the owner's consent) here is her name:-

"SCOT FREE"   that's just right for me and the canoe.  I sure am a FREE SCOT !!   And a happy man !

b.   I am now reshaping this page which was a bit of a mixter/maxter, as we might say in Scotland.   Have chosen two extracts which will show the two extremes of my challenge.

c.   JOHN'S RECOLLECTIONS...This is Sunday...I thought it was Saturday...does it matter ? I'm back home.  Have wakened from very deep sleep -shivering violently... wondering what is going on... is this a chill...must speak to Press as appointed...made hot tea... more clothes... shivering so much, asked Ann to take over.    Slightly better but unable to sort things out in sequence.   Decide it's better to describe a single WIPE OUT event.  Here goes................... 

 Beautiful calm spell....THIS IS lovely...but waves start to increase for no apparent reason....notice white wall approaching from south...this is another instant storm of rain and hail.... want to get off loch.... rocky shore...not suitable to lay by.... what to do... best to increase my speed to get through this as fast as possible...wind now very strong... waves building through white crests to worse..(Force 6 on Beaufort Scale). what to do... cannot turn back across waves... must push on... almost no progress and still no haven...losing strength in fight with waves...how long can I hold out.....almost at a standstill while using all strength...must decide before being overwhelmed.... decide better to ditch ... IS THIS BEST OPTION ?..... must do it ... crash off against rocky shore .. survive falling over sideways into water but at least out of danger...extremely wet.....assess situation....should I abort mission and make a fresh start. ...No...Phone Ann to drive round to recover me and canoe....huge difficulty getting up to road with canoe...Ann just marvellous in emergency...  shall return across loch at same point ...(purely by chance this is marked by Yellow Triangle indicating underwater telephone cable) .   Remember babbling incoherently before getting to bed.  Deep sleep...a new day begins.   Recrossed to exact same point.   Then further replays of storm sequence but none so violent.   While typing this am still swaying in my head.   Take great care when moving about house.

d.   CALM BY CONTRAST:   Had to find suitable overnight stop but reluctant to stop at various options....push on while going good....found by chance a marvellous stopover....an overhanging rock face with a huge oak growing above....small easy gravel shore....got ashore...pulled canoe further up....quick exploration before dark....beds of dry leaves between rocks on 'floor'.... small dry sticks..... larger dry sticks....Robinson Crusoe's cave !!..... No goats.....many drips from overhead but a 5-star hotel..... pulled canoe up to revolving door....laid out bedding, etc.... made fire...heated Mrs. Baxter's soup... marvellous...speaking to myself out loud.....LOVE YOU MRS BAXTER.....made coffee with same pot....what's a little bit of extra soup.    Gradually realised my good luck....slept more or less .....view at about 5 a.m...dead calm loch...amazing reflections...have developed a good line in talking to myself ....."Must come and live here!!"   Just my kind of living.  (Remember SCOT FREE?)  Huge Oak tree roots my ceiling joists - just above my head.... speak to the tree.."GOD BLESS YOU TREE...LIVE ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS !!   Feel this is my reward for so many years of my life caring for trees.   Phone Ann about 8 a.m.after more "BLESS YOU MRS BAXTER" (no offence, please) soup and coffee and tea and biscuits and a banana...pack masses of wet clothes into canoe ... great canoe, by the way..

(Rpt)  Found a name for her on way down loch  "SCOT FREE"...   Borrowed from an anchored yacht, en route to Orkney...Frank and Ann, Bless you two, too ! Proper seafarers. 

Before leaving, took three leaves with permission, solemnly  blessed that tree, making all the wrong hand signals, but the tree understood.  I know she understood.   I'm going back there another day with more time.   And the rest of that day was just unspeakably lovely ....trees, trees, trees...so many different species...all in new Spring clothes.....courtesy of "HIM UP THERE"...and He understands as well.   Home, to be home, and Ann, My Very Best Friend,  and all those kind generous people who have willed me on and put lots of money to help Alzheimer care and research.   BLESS YOU ALL TOO !   And I loved it all, wouldn't change a thing !!   Coping with the emotion has been more difficult than coping with Loch Ness.  " Listen John, just give in and enjoy such huge and marvellous human feelings."  I have... and it wasn't so difficult after all once you let go "Was it, John."  A truly great trip!!  

I, Me, John, shall now try to reassemble the rest in datal order....please bear with me.

e.  27/05/2010..Ann speaking.. John launched 11.40am today Thursday 27th. Heading north. Despite the weather forcing him to postpone night before he decided to set off as planned this morning as weather didn't look so bad. Sunshine and showers...some heavy. Had to get on shore. Wiped out due to waves and rain. Had to have complete change of clothes but arrived safely at Dores beach 7.20pm. Travelled a wee bit further then set up camp on north west shore of loch, south of Lochend. He said it was just "magic" on the loch and that he was fine. Shall write an update tomorrow.

 f.   *!*!* FRIDAY 28TH  *!*!* John camped last night for a wee rest,started again very early morn. Weather changed again to more wind and waves so he's now on shore north of Urquhart Bay, cosied in on a safe beach. Might not get to Fort Augustus today as planned as wind direction not favourable just now. He says he's fine.

g.  *!*!*FRIDAY 28th 3pm*!*!*  John on the water again heading south. Weather being very naughty. Still aiming to get to Fort Augustus tonight. Says he's fine despite some hail stones down his neck

h.   *!*!*SATURDAY 30th*!*!*   John had to come off loch last night at half way point as wind and waves very bad and he struggled to stay safe. Got him back home THEN this morning he set off again from the same place he had to stop at and he reached Fort Augustus 4pm. Now under cover of a kindly oak tree on rocky shore in heavy showers opposite Invermoriston  9.30pm. Was soaked through but now dry, had soup, got wee fire. Should land Foyers pier lunch time Sunday if not earlier but the wind may halt progess.

I. *!*!*SUNDAY 30th*!*!*  John expected at Foyers pier 10.30am.  Camped out last night, which was very wet, under an oak tree but on rocky shore. Now wet, cold but says he's enjoying every foot of the journey this morning. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

j.*!*SUNDAY 30th*!"*!* John arrived at Foyers pier 11.10am. Twenty folk as welcoming party. Seven local canoeists escorting him across the bay. Piper piping. All very emotional. John very tired. Much wet gear. Home safe..very hot shower..hot drinks..fell fast asleep for four hours..woke up shivering violently..had to speak to Press and Journal but was..somewhat incoherent..asked Ann to take over the call..John struggling to remember series of events over last three days..but remembered beautiful, calm spells interrupted by horrendous rain and hail stones...hail stones down my neck..John shall write in greater detail what he experienced.