Oich Island and a Canoe!

Half way through our first day on the island now, but getting here last night wasn’t much fun!

We were running late anyway, then it started to rain pretty heavily so we started rushing things a bit. One good thing, we managed to persuade the hotel opposite to let us park the car there for free! Got across to the island and couldn’t find anywhere to get out – all just marshy. Finally got out and unloaded the canoe to find there wasn’t anywhere to camp. So had to load up the canoe again. In the rush getting back out we ended up loosing the skegs (fin’s from the bottom) off the canoe so it now doesn’t paddle very straight. Limped down and found another place to get out but it did involve getting fairly wet!!

Got camp setup in the rain, cold and dark – and found out we’d left my underblanket in the car! So fashioned the sleeping bag I should be sleeping in under the hammock and I’m making do with the fleece liner as a sleeping bag. Both sat having hotdogs for tea at about 9:30pm wrapped in silver blankets feeling wet and cold and a bit miserable.

Got in to bed and was warm enough, just about. Only chill was early morning when we’d noticed the wind had picked up. Both felt loads better in the morning after some breakfast, a cuppa and some dryer clothes on. Got a fire going and put up a washing line to get things dried. Made a bench seat out of two tree stumps and a decent sized log so we’re not on the floor.

Had lunch and now busy cooking a stew over the fire for tea. Things starting to look better.