Day 1 - Etive
Due to lack of water it was in at the deep end -
Matt, myself, Erik, Derek, Helen, Jonas and Nick set off with Mark and Dennis as coaches. The Etive is a truly beautiful place and there is nothing better than starting on a bit of grade 4 to get the adrenaline going! We learnt a lot! Risk, safety and what line would we like to take. The first bit was called triple falls, i was so keen not to take a roll on any part of it - and i did but i got up and down the rest of the falls in one piece so that was good. Erik paddled the second fall backwards - of course by design.
The ski jump was the last of the falls - about 12 feet- great fun. Next up was Crack of Dawn - we had a look, set up safety, Dennis showed us how to do it right - and then Mark took the lead. He was obviously concentrating on other things apart from paddling - and took a swim. Matt thoroughly enjoyed this - see the photos. We did a live bait rescue of Helens boat and all was good. The boys all ran it fine; I chickened out of the first part but had fun on the drop at the end.
It sounds like a short run - it is, but we spend lots of time evaluating, considering and learning. After 4 hours enough was enough and we were off to the Claickhaig pub for a pint and a chat.
Great first day!
Day 2 - Allt Mheuran
Yet again - no rain - would you believe it - it always rains in Scotland - just not at the moment.
So Dennis thought we would head for the easy stuff - not. I have to say at the beginning of the first run I was truly terrified. The boys of course we super cool - well - I think they were a bit scared too....
We walked with our boats for about an hour up the hill, through the mud, to the falls. This basically consisted of a reasonable drop at the top followed by a long s bend slide and then one huge drop - 20 foot. Again we had a good look. We started with the s bend slide - to get a feel of how to paddle in more rocks than water. Interesting. Then we started with the top drop. Dennis put us in right on it, to start off with - basically lean forward - go through the gap at the bottom and eddy out. The idea was to keep your paddles 
away from your face. Which Derek did not quite manage and hence he continued the tradition of bloody Monday (Matt cut his eyebrow open exactly a year ago in Scotland). Derek was straight back into it ... and no more injuries.
So having successfully negotiated the drop the easy way we started it again - a little higher up with a small drop and a very important right stroke so as not to go down the falls backwards. All good and lots of fun. Mark nearly lost his legs to Mattias's tank of a boat heading straight out of the water up the rock towards him.
So then it was the falls at the bottom. Dennis looked at me, whilst we were waiting in the middle section and said - lets just run it blind.... the fact of the matter is that the water moves so fast - or at least your boat does that my brain was still trying to catch up when I hit the water at the bottom. This part of the run involved a really narrow chute and straight into the falls. Wicked - the best adrenaline rush.
We were back up to the top to run the whole thing in one go and crickey does your speed get up in those circumstances.
It was one stunning day; I certainly never expected to paddle anything like it.
And of course the scenery was magnificent, the weather was great and we all were hyper at the end.
Day 3 - The (unexpected) rest day
Shopping, hanging out and a bit of a car crash!
Nobody got injured and the car was towed back to London for a thorough checkup.
Day 4 Etive - Big Man Falls & Allt a' Chaorainn
We changed coaches today - Carl joined us and Mark went with the beginners.
Still no rain! We went to have a look at the Patack but it was too low so it was back to the Etive. Getting to the Etive means a drive through Glen Coe - what a hardship. Glen Coe is probably one of the most beautiful spots in Scotland.
Anyway - Big Man Falls is a 24 foot drop ! There is a little dog leg into it which all of us avoided apart from Dennis and Carl our coaches. We had a warm up on some smaller rapids above and then spent some time doing risk, safety, line. Then - well then we ran it - how scared...
... there was a certain amount of swimming - myself, Erik and Mattias. Mattias managed to end up river left - no the best place - he made it around the back of the curtain of the falls - no mean feat and out the other side - all good. Until he rolled over against the wall and that was that - he swam - much to his disgust. We pottered down some more rapids all suitably happy. Jonas was somewhat chuffed at this stage that his big brother had swam and he had not - so he took his eye off the ball and took a swim on a smaller rapid !
So that was that - but not quite the end of the day. We had a quick bite to eat and trekked up the hill to the Allt a' Chaorainn. This involved a variety of drops, slides and fun. The Chute was the start - just as it is named a very fast, tight drop with a tap of the paddle at the end to keep right - enjoyed by all and no swimming. Next up was Ecstasy - well that was its name - not quite my experience of it. I guess by this stage I was tired and full of adrenaline - suffice to say I took a swim that was no fun at all ... after a bit of time to breath i was back in my boat and safely down to the end . Derek took a technical swim in the pool below me and everyone else made it down ok.
Another stunning day with some serious rapids and falls paddled. Despite the lack of rain we were all pushed to our limits and learnt heaps. And to end the day off - it has started raining.
Day 5 - The Orchy 
We tramped up to a tributary of the Orchy to start the day. I was a little nervous after my swim the day before and managed the first drop backwards. We then hit a few more rapids, all safe and fine and down to the Orchy proper. This part of the river was flat with some grade 3 and a stonking grade 4+. We started with Big Rock Rapid - Jonas led us down this rapid - all easy stuff and fun.
Next up was Chicken Shoot - which I chickened out of - the Boys, of course ran it - it would be fair to say that no one made their line - no one swam but there were a few rolls. Erik managed to pull his shoulder but all was fine. After that it was down to Sheep trolley gorge and lots of playing. Helen took a good bash to her thumb. The injuries were increasing. Matt was happy not to leave any of his head behind (unlike last year).
Day 6 - Allt Glenn A Chaolais
It was raining when we left home today - yippee! Our numbers were dwindling with Erik and Helen at home injured. Off we went for steeper creeking. The hike up was no mean feat - the views at the top were stunning. We started with a short drop and then were ready for the big one. This waterfall is apparently known as *** slap falls - if you don’t get you face tucked down and to the side the water can achieve its name! Oh what fun - this waterfall was big enough to give us time to think on the way down. Huge grins all around at the bottom and lots of adrenalin. This was the biggest fall we ran all week - I am not sure how high it was. The next part was a chunky s bend - Derek and I managed to go over near the end, but we both got up and finished fine. Derek had bashed his elbow fairly substantially and that was paddling done for him. The next section was a decent drop with a couple of boofs along the way. Nick, Matt and Jonas - who all had a fairly interesting time on the way down. This section was proper grade 5 and they were all pumping adrenaline by the time they got to the bottom.
The water was picking up all the time and the rest of what had been a nice grade 4 had turned into a seriously difficult grade 5. Carl showed us how to run a great drop of course made his line and was well happy. That left the last bit which Carl and Dennis ran - both of them had interesting moments and were grinning from ear to ear at the bottom.
So it was back to the Clachagaig Inn for another pint and venison burgers.
And that was that! Scotland - yet again I have had a wonderful week up here. I paddle water I never expected to, dropped off huge falls and lived to tell the tale. I have learnt heaps and am always reminded of how much there is to learn.
My thanks to my coaches for their constant patience, support, safety and positive approach to paddling. I highly recommend Kayakojacko.
My thanks to Helen, Derek, Mattias, Erik, Jonas and Nick for a great week - lots of laughs, lots of hugs, loads of piss take.... Roll on next year.