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23/11/06 So what have we been doing here at Sea Kayak Shetland? Well we've had a brilliant summer. Loads more visitors than last year and much better weather. Thanks to you all for being such great fun and especially thanks for all the kind comments. I'll maybe print a few on this page soon. But that all seems a long time ago as the autumn gales drive through.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was what we call a 'day between weathers', and I took the opportunity to go out for a short paddle. It was almost calm, just the lightest of northerly breezes, but there was still a big sea running on the west side so I decided to stay out of it by paddling round East Burra crossing over at the Ayre Dyke. No car needed - I put the kayak on its trolley and took it less than a hundred yards down the hill to the Toogs Pier. Five minutes later I was watching an otter swimming along the shore of the East Isle. I could probably have seen it with binoculars from my kitchen window. Going round into Clift Sound it was as peaceful as ever, with just a gentle swell as I came south. On the way I saw several cormorants - not the shags we are familiar with, these were cormorants - a few tysties or black guillemots, now of course in their winter plumage and not black at all, curlews, herons, and best of all a group of about six beautiful long-tailed ducks, calling loudly as they swam away.

One of the objects of the trip was to try out the Azzali Greenland paddle. it's the first time I've used a Greenland paddle for more than a few minutes, but it won't be the last. It took about ten minutes to get used to it and after that it seemed the most natural thing in the world.

24/11/06 I've just been down to the Outdoor Centre and there's a young cormorant sitting on the end of the pontoon drying his wings - I've never seen that before.

Kayaking is also one of the best ways to see Shetland's wildlife.