Day 3 – End of the Lowland Canals

• Kirkintilloch to Ardmore Point
• 45 kms

I was up early today as I had a long paddle planned and was a bit uncertain about how long the canal portages were going to take.

Midday would be a good time to be at the end of the canal. It would allow me to take advantage of the last of the ebb on the Clyde and, more importantly, it would give Wendy time to get home for her German lesson.

I wheeled the kayak back to the canal and was paddling again just before 6.30. My kayak was almost empty this time as Wendy was taking most of my gear to Bowling by car.

Although the locks presented a number of challenges, having an empty kayak made all the difference. I could lower it down steep grassy banks or pull it up over concrete walls. I had brought along the plastic base from an old kari-tek trolley to use between wall and kayak that allowed the kayak to slide easily. It worked well on the two occasions I used it today.

I completed the trip with just six portages, rather than the eleven I had feared. I managed to squeeze under all of the low bridges. One involved hanging on to the girders below the bridge and tipping my kayak on its side so that I could get my torso under – anything to avoid another exit.

At Bowling, Wendy conjured up yet another excellent picnic lunch (courtesy of M&S), which we ate by the side of lock 38. The kayak was then loaded up in time for me to catch the last of the ebb tide. This, along with a slight easterly breeze, made for easy paddling down as far as Port Glasgow.

Eventually, after a few ventures into shallow sand banks, I was able to cut north over to my final destination at Ardmore Point on the north bank of the Clyde.