Krill and Kayaks

Krill form a vital link in the Antarctic food chain, and Kilchoan has its link to the Antarctic - Trevor Potts, who runs a highly rated campsite in the village (here). These days, Trevor spends his winters in the Antarctic aboard cruise ships, giving lectures and taking passengers ashore to view the magnificent wildlife, but Trevor once sailed an open boat in the footsteps of Shackleton, from the Antarctic to South Georgia.

One consequence of his wanderings is that Trevor has contacts who are both knowledgeable and interesting, one of whom, Dr Rudolpho Werner, science advisor to the Antarctic Krill Project, will be giving a lecture in the campsite's study centre on Saturday 24th July, at 8pm. I've been to Trevor's talks before, and they are both informative and fun - for both children and adults.

Another Kilchoan institution is being 'relaunched' this year - Kilchoan Kayakers. Starting on the 22nd July, the group will meet each Thursday evening at the jetty below The Ferry Stores at 6pm, for anything from a gentle paddle round the Bay to something more adventurous - and the group copes with both experienced paddlers and beginners.

This is a wonderful coastline for kayaking, with unexplored bays within a kilometre or so of the jetty and a wealth of marine wildlife. Anyone who does not have their own kayak please contact Geoff Campbell at geoff@boatlaunch.co.uk

Picture of krill from Wikipedia Commons, courtesy Uwe Kils.