Introducing Cyril…..

I thought I’d better introduce my new friend Cyril:

He’s a P&H Sirius sea kayak, and my latest E-bay aquisition.  So, despite being short on time this weekend, I was desperate to get him out for a wee outing, even if only  on the canal at Auchinstarry for a few miles.

First impressions? Well, he’s a tippy wee chap, and is certainly going to teach me a thing or two about my paddling technique!! He requires more aggressive edging than the Capella before he’ll turn, but then becomes really quite manoverable. He also feels much faster than the Capella, although I’ll have to wait until I paddle with a group next to put this theory to the test.

I did try to give these two a race, but gave up – very quickly!!:

The South bank of the canal past Dullatur  has no towpath, and is quite overgrown, and with many fallen trees.

Still, it gave me a chance to collect a piece of tinder fungus, and the seed-heads from some rushes to try later for firelighting (and a couple of lost fishing floats of course!).

I’ll dry these out and have a go with them later.

So, only a short outing, but it looks as though it could be the start of a beautiful friendship! 🙂