Halfway down ribbon-like Loch Eck on a foul summer's day, Billy and I saw a small stand of boats outside the Whistlefield Inn and had a Plan. We were heading for Beinn Mhor directly above the opposite shores, but if we hired a rowing boat for the day we could save ourselves a considerable walk halfway up the length of Loch Eck and back. On other days I have seen people out fishing in boats on Loch Eck, and an idyllic scene it makes, with the trees of Argyll Forest Park swathing the steep shores, and the deep waters of Loch Eck lying still and reflecting a liquid sun. This, however, was a different day entirely. After arranging the boat hire with the dubious owner ('Pay if you get back', he'd said), we rowed out, until halfway across the narrow, funnel-like loch the wind and waves became so strong that we had to turn the boat 90 degrees to face directly into the wind to reduce the rocking, which was threatening to capsize us. It was at this point we spotted the crowd that had gathered by the shore, enticed out of the bar by the opportunity of betting on our chances of making it across the loch in this weather. This did not inspire us with confidence. However, it did lend us some bravado, and eventually we made it across, dragged the boat well out of the water, tied it to a tree, and started on up the hill. This is possibly a good walk, and can be continued onwards to Clach Bheinn. Today though the weather was so foul, the wind so strong, the rain so cold and cutting, that we headed straight back downhill. Summer was supposed to have started, but the weather was more like January. We hadn't been gone long, but had to bale out the rain-filled boat before setting off again across the loch. Knowing about the severity of the waves, we managed to cautiously navigate our way back across. But wet as we were, we were grinning. We had had a Plan, and it had lead to an Adventure. A pint next to the open fire in the Whistlefield Inn before heading back home was well justified.
