Big Bang takes Penny Kayaking

My most favourite show on television is The Big Bang Theory, a comedy about four young men working at a University. They are all very wise scientists who love Super heroes and are Star Trek fans and I love them all. There are also two young women biologists that they befriend plus Penny, the high school drop out, who aspires to be an actress. Last year my friend who kayaks and blogs posted a picture of himself with his partner and four friends all taking a lunch break on a beach. They were dressed in matching mango dry suits and I couldn't help but laugh as they so reminded me of the guys from Big Bang when they dressed up in their Star Trek costumes. These too, were all very wise men and so I nicknamed them the Big Bang Guys. 

Yesterday my friends, Duncan and Joan, arranged with their friend, Ian to take me on an amazing kayak trip on the Moray Firth of the North Sea. Ian had planned the adventure and supplied me with kayak and kit so that I could take part. Although I look nothing like Penny, as I suited up in a mango jacket I felt that the "Big Bang Guys" were taking Penny kayaking. I am a novice kayaker and was feeling a little apprehensive about paddling with such wise skilled paddlers.



We headed out from Sandend Beach and the water was calm and a beautiful clear blue colour. We followed the coastline and went behind huge rocks through narrow channels. 


Above on the rocks were many types of birds nesting on the cliffs. It was truly amazing to be so close to them. The air was filled with their sounds and smells. Ian pointed out the many types of gulls, cormorants and kittiwakes. 

We continued on exploring the cliffs n caves that we came upon. As we paddled under the ruins of the Findlater Castle we approached a beautiful sand beach which would be our lunch spot.  

Ian explained how we needed to watch the waves and come in after two large waves had passed as they were followed by seven small waves. He went in first and did a wonderful smooth landing. I followed and was doing great but I'm not a strong paddler so the first big wave came up behind me and thankfully I managed to ride through it but as I neared the beach the second wave caught me sideways and I found myself hanging out of the kayak sideways with one side of me under six inches of water. It was a great sideways skid onto the beach and I laughed thinking how it was a great "Penny" landing. 
Here I had been concerned that I might embarrass my friend around his kayaking buddy and now I could relax because it was done. Ah it was something to laugh about and learn from. We had a great lunch and then headed back out. Amazingly it was much easier to get out with the help of the two guys than it was to come in to shore.



We carried on and cross the bay at Cullen beach and paddled over to Bow Fiddle Rock. 

Safely on the other side of the waves

It as a long ways to paddle and I was unable to keep up to the guys but thankfully Joan paddled along side me enjoying the beautiful views together as we moved along. The Bowfiddle is just so amazing.

Bow Fiddle Rock
From the front you can't see how amazing it is but from the backside it turns into this beautiful rock formation that looks like a fiddle. Paddling under it was such a gift and something that many people don't get to experience. I will be forever grateful! We then paddled over to another cave which will someday turn into an arch as the "window" is already forming.

I loved looking up at the stone ceiling and down through the green water. I could have stayed in there forever just floating on the clear water however we still had to paddle across Cullen Bay to the beach where we had left a car. Thankfully we were landing at the marina where the beach was protected from waves and I was able to land a little more gracefully this time!



It was an amazing day and something I will always cherish. Thank you Ian for organizing such a wonderful day and thank you Duncan and Joan for not only the kayak outing but an amazing holiday!
Photos from Duncan at http://oceanpax.blogspot.ca/ 
(I was very thankful I hadn't taken my phone with me to take pictures)