Menootanaboot; Linlithgow Loch

On Monday I shared with you some views of historic buildings from this ancient town. Today, from the sublime to the slightly ridiculous. I say that only insofar as by the time the kayakers got themselves organised, it was 7pm. Now, a mighty robust and cold breeze was blustering its way across the open water. Bullying the trees and the YAMster. That they all stripped down to varying textures of lycra and - in the case of Mac1 - got dunked in the water, seemed to me to be bordering on the slightly daft, possibly plain crazy. Mac1 capsized getting into her craft, so had to go through the rigmarole of emptying it before getting in again.

Nothing stops these types though (mind you, I used to be one of 'those types'), and by 7:15 the starter's whistle blew.

There were 13 participants, 11 kayaks; two were tandem. Different classes, too. Needless to say, Mac1 and two of her pals were in the 'beginners' and kept on the tails of everyone else. Then there was the fact that the course was six kilometres. It was decided that if the beginners completed one circuit (2km) there would be no shame in completing their race at that point.

Mac1, thankfully, made that decision. I was worried she'd end up with bronchitis again, though she kept insisting she was quite warm.

All-in-all it was a fun evening out with my younger sister and watching her get wet then keeping upright the whole way round and setting a benchmark time for herself. That it was the last race of the season means she has nine months to plan the next attack!!!

via GIPHY