The Great Glen Canoe Trail/ Adventure Challenge/ Part 1

For months now I've been waiting to take part in this epic adventure. The trip has been organised by Ant Bowden (Survive the night) to raise much needed funds for the Alzheimers Society. The time had finally arrived as myself and a bunch of like minded individuals hit the roads and headed north for the start of the trip. We would stay the first night at Glen Nevis campsite in the shadow of Ben Nevis and head to Neptunes Staircase the following morning. I packed my camera gear in the hope of some wildlife photography but was soon to realise this was going to be more difficult than I bargained for!!
Donate to the Alzeihmer's Society here: www.justgiving...
Go follow the incredible lads that did this trip with me:
Matt - Adventure is Made: / @adventureismade
Simon a Bloke in the Woods: / @simonablokeinthewoods
Ant Survive The Night: / @antsurvivethenight
RickT Outdoors: / @ricktoutdooradventure...
Jack Turner: www.instagram....
Richard Outdoors: / ridmavor
Ginger_Scarf: www.instagram....
Mattie - Magpie Woods: www.instagram....

[@vicariousaviator9742]

Well done on the stretch of moving water before Fort Aug. Nice one 👍🏼😃

[@simoneardley]

Thanks, it was the highlight for me. The River Oich is a beautiful stretch of water!!👍🏼👀

[@mphigham1963]

Cracking video Simon, looks like you all had a fabulous few days exploring some stunning scenery. Cheers Pal !

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Martin, it was a pretty special trip. I'll be doing it again some time for sure!!👍🏼🛶🔥

[@ashstubbings2603]

I think this, along with photographing parts of The Great Glen this would be my ultimate adventure! I'm not jealous at all.. honest!

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Ash, its a stunning location for sure. More for landscape photographers than wildlife though I think!!📷

[@neilcartmill4708]

Excellent video Simon, looking foward to part 2👍

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Neil 👍🏼

[@rlrphotography-uk]

Well done Simon & the gang .spent hours watching everyones video .Just got to watch yours now , Will give it a like ,be rude not to LOL .brilliant sofar . Stay safe .glad you all made it .

[@simoneardley]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the films Roger, it was a fantastic trip 👍🏼

[@GraysOutdoors]

Good video Simon. Looked like a great first day. ATB. Grays

[@simoneardley]

Glad you enjoyed it Grays, part 2 out soon 👍🏼

[@richardhutchings921]

Is that Nessie, I see in the front of the canoe? Love the music. Absolutely beautiful scenery. Thanks for sharing.

[@simoneardley]

Yes, it was Richard. It was our mascot that was passed on to individuals every day if they dropped a clanger!!!😆 Thanks for watching👀👍🏼👊

[@shellymay3992]

Love watching these videos ,they are awesome 👌

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Shelley

[@RichardOutdoors]

Excellent pal!

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Richard👍🏼

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Nice one Simon, loved the piece about our Grandma Agnus 🙂👍. Was good to be out on a trip with ya as always Atb Rick n Jack

[@simoneardley]

Yeh, likewise Rick great to be out with you pal. Yeh, she's never far from my thoughts especially when i have a cup of tea leaves and take a swig of em!!! Great trip!!👊👍🏼🛶🔥

[@carlos1982]

Brilliant really enjoyed that. What a great experience we'll done all 👌 look forward part 2 😊

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Carl, glad you enjoyed Part 1!!👍🏼🎥

[@sue.Hoo123]

Superb footage and narration, looks like a great adventure. Loving your little Nessie travelling companion. Looking forward to part 2 👍

[@simoneardley]

Glad you enjoyed it Sue👍🏼👍🏼

[@user-kk9cw]

Loved it Simon can't wait for episode 2!

[@simoneardley]

Thanks, still editing!!!😆🎥📷

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Hahaha - I enjoyed that Si! Nice one! Great trip wasnt it, a pleasure to paddle with you!

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Simon, yeh it was fantastic mate. Next time youre up this way give us a shout. Some great spots in the Lakes for winter paddles. Its certainly on the radar for a future trip 👍🏼👊🔥🛶 Now let me get that new boat built!!

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

Cracking video Simon looked like a great adventure you's have raised a lot of cash for the Alzheimer’s Society well done look forward to seeing part two atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Jimmy, what a great trip it was. Great bunch of people too and raised a ton of cash to boot👍

[@marksymonds8477]

Nice one Simon,looks like you’re all having a great time,you can’t beat a bit of boys own wild adventure 👍

[@simoneardley]

You got that right Mark , cheers pal 👍🏼👊

[@adrianmoore4690]

Great video

[@simoneardley]

Thanks Adrian👍🏼

[@meljones7774]

Hi Simon, gr8 video but I was hoping for Osprey photos☹️, lovely bunch of guys & a gr8 cause for doing this, glad you all got out in one piece x

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Mel, I was hoping for the same. We saw very little in the way of wildlife which was a real shame. It wasn't for the lack of trying though. I'm back up north next week so there'll be plenty to come from that trip 👍

[@deetrvl4life875]

Loved this! I had no idea Scotland had so much variety of geological formations. Great music choices, too. Thank you! I’m a subscriber of Simon, the Bloke. And now to your channel too.

[@simoneardley]

Welcome to the channel, Scotland is a truly awesome place. We head North at every opportunity. I'm sat in the camper replying to you looking out at the Sound of Mull and watching the wildlife. Love it!!👀👍🏼👌

[@aynsleycooper365]

Simon, just spotted this, watching now. Well done to you and all involved in this - hope everyone's had time to recover and re-energise.

[@pathogan4854]

wow wow wow that a journey so far. congratulations and fairplay to you all !!

[@simoneardley]

Yes it was!!!! Thanks Pat👍🏼👊

[@richardpill8322]

Great video, looks like you having a good time, can’t wait for part two!

[@simoneardley]

Coming soon Richard, thanks for the visit 👍🏼

[@malcolmT]

Just like the others I've seen so far excellent video looking forward to the next one, so interesting to see different perspectives of the journey you were all a great team for doing this 👍👍

[@simoneardley]

Glad you enjoyed it Malcolm, great to be able to bring you guys along for the ride !!👍🏼👊🔥🛶

[@malcolmT]

Yes that's how it feels 👍😁

[@cedarbrake1309]

Just found your channel through the links in the Great Glen Canoe Trail output. Signed on to see some of your previous output. From this enjoyable start I’m sure there are others that I will appreciate as well. Making new memories to make up for the ones that are being destroyed by alzheimer’s. Great cause and great effort by you and the entire band.

[@simoneardley]

Welcome aboard, so glad you've joined the channel. Hope you find the content of interest. Totally agree about the making memories, so important!! All the best and welcome aboard 👍🏼👊

[@paulflatley2056]

I’ve been looking forward to watching your adventure Si . Absolutely fantastic , what a place ! You forget what planning must have taken place beforehand, and the gear !! I’d be no good, I’d be bound to lose summat! Epic journey mate, great effort by yourself and the team , and for a fantastic cause. My mum died last year due to Alzheimer’s, so I know the destruction of this horrible disease , hope you raise loads, il be donating pal. Can’t wait for part 2 ! Fancy a catch up and a brew when you get some free time ?

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Paul, so sorry to hear about your Mum. You're right its a devastating disease and becoming all too common. Great that we could combine a trip like this with raising some much needed funds. Always available for a catch up mate, just give me a bell and we'll sort something out !!👊👍🏼😀

[@AntSurviveTheNight]

Brilliantly Simon, really enjoyed that, again another team members different perspective. You never did say…. West Country tea over Yorkshire?

[@simoneardley]

Cheers Ant, great to see all the different films eh!! Jury's still out on the tea mate!!😆👊👊

[@Kerridale1]

Hi Simon, that brought back some great memories, although it is 20 years since we did the Great Glen Canoe challenge, you seem to have hit the weather about right in part one hope you are as lucky in part 2. How did you find the skin so soft at keeping the midges at bay. Looking forward to part 2. I know in my backpacking days there were things I took with me and never used, is there anything you took on the trip that you did no actually need or use? by the way the drone scenes were great. Tony Warren

[@simoneardley]

Hi Tony, its a cracking route isn't it !! Regarding the midge repellent, I've come to the conclusion nothing works effectively😆😆🦟!!!! The best thing is a smokey fire or a nice breeze, that was my assessment anyway. I had taken my camera gear in the hope of doing some photography but the days were just too busy so thats one lesson learnt. All the best,Simon👍🏼👍🏼👊

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Great edit and wonderful scenery. May I ask what cameras you used on this trip and what editing suite and how much RAM your computer has? I ask because I see that 1080p x 60 fps is far superior to my 1080p x30 fps, but my 8Gb RAM can't handle the lagging in post edit using Hitfilm Express.

[@simoneardley]

Thanks, I use the Canon M50 coupled with the Sigma 16mm F1.4 lens and the DJI Osmo action camera. Editing suite is Imovie on Mac and the memory is 8GB.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

@@simoneardley Thank you.

[@deanlewisbengy]

Enjoyed watching this. I'm doing this trip in October hopefully it will go well. One question! was the green sail any good? I've seen them on ebay. Is it too small?

[@simoneardley]

Hi Dean, obviously theres no subsitute for a proper sail but it was surprising how much of a drag it gave you when the wind was pointing in the right direction. Definitely gave a decent pull and it survived the trip👍🏼

[@deanlewisbengy]

@@simoneardley Thanks for letting me know.

[@gwynjames2077]

Love your sound track. What is it?

[@simoneardley]

Hi Gwyn, its an assortment of tracks. All found on KZbin studio.

[@markwebb929]

vae.fyi bonzer