Central Highlands Voyageur, Oct '09

Hi Steve,

Thanks for a great trip down the Tay. Really enjoyed it and learnt a lot from both you and Paul. Should be back for more next year.

Thanks again

Neil Dishington

Private guiding, Scotland September 2009

Steve, firstly, a really big thanks for all your efforts on the water and
around the camps. A few days to mull and reminisce over last week,
along with flicking through some top photos still doesn't come
anywhere near doing the trip justice; but you looked after us famously
well through wind and rain and we'll not forget the fun. Top paddling,
top scenery, top morale and top nosh! As suspected, I've put on a
couple of biscuit and brioche pounds, but will hit the salads now and
all will be well.

Tim Bull

Hey Steve,

Just wanted to write to say hi and thanks you so much again for such a tip top holiday up in Scotland. We have been talking about it to friends and family non stop and it wouldn´t have been half the trip without your expertise and sense of fun. You are so at ease in the environment and nothing phased you at all - always maintaining a smile and a chipper outlook - not to be underestimated.

Take it easy and once again thank you so much for a brilliant adventure...chuffed we got to share it with you.

Gemma Bull

Lakelanders '09

Hi Steve and Paul,Tremendous weekend; learnt a lot and ate a lot. Now looking forward to Sept.

Regards, Rolf.

Thanks for a fab weekend, learnt loads. Great company great food, good choice of campsites,......just great..

Polly

I think the thanks goes to you guys, I had a great weekend and will undoubtly seeing you again.

Emma

Hey you guys,
thank you so much for such a fab few days. learnt so much and in such a chilled and relaxed way. such a pleasure to have been with you all. We went back to Emmas for supper and had a lovely evening together. all being well see you both in May for caledonian canal trip. Emma plans to be there too.

lots love Mary x


Voyageur '08

Hi Steve,
What an amazing trip Caz and I had. I cannot thank you, Paul and Dan enough for the excellent week.
Yes, some of it was hard going but that was to be expected. Hey, we did it!
June

Voyageur 08,

Steve,
I have been meaning to write for a while now to say how much I enjoyed the recent trip to Moidart on the 2008 Voyager course. I found the positive attitude that all instructors had to be most refreshing. Despite changing weather conditions and a few arduous days paddling I feel our group bonded well as the days went by. My overriding memory is one of freedom from stress, work and the daily grind. I can honestly say that these memories will remain with me for the rest of my life. I am certain that I will be on another trip next year and will not have a single hesitation in recommending any ORCA course to anybody interested in the outdoors in any way.
Kind Regards,

Leigh

Lakelander '07

I was a bit ambivalent about the weekend before hand, but really got fired into it within 2 minutes of being on the water,,,, it was a very good group ,and it all flowed due to the quality of your guidance, and relaxed participation, thanks again.
Pete

Lakelander '07
I wasn't at all sure what to expect from the weekend and although I had been in a Canadian Canoe, on the sea on flat calm days, I wouldn't have described myself as experienced or skilled.
The weekend far surpassed any expectations I had in every way, the location was perfect, the campsites lovely and from the moment we met up with the group the whole experience was friendly and welcoming. We were paddling wooden canoes which had been handbuilt by Steve and they were beautiful.
Steve & Paul were patient instructors and they made the weekend varied, fun, and as challenging as each individual wanted it to be.
Lucy did a wonderful job holding the camp space and cooking for all the hungry mouths, there was always plenty of great food and a fire to welcome us when we came back to camp, and a pan of hot water constantly bubbling away for cups of tea. Everyone got on really well and I have taken loads of good memories away with me from the weekend as well as an inabilty to look at a stretch of water without wanting to be on it in a canoe!

Thanks... Ian.

Dear Steve,

Just a quick mail to thank you and Paul for a brilliant weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a huge amount whilst having a great time. I think I may have persuaded the family to look into purchasing a canoe! Progress there. Thank you again and I hope that I will be able to join you on one of your "trip" courses.

Yours, Martin

Voyageur '07

The Orca team were amazing, they could make camp, have a cheery warming fire going, produce fabulous food in no time at all and do it all seemingly effortlessly after a full day of canoeing in varied conditions while ensuring we were all happy and safe!
I learned so much that week about canoeing, about how to handle the boat (or not)! in different conditions and situations; about paddling with different partners, what the boats were capable of and what I was capable of. We travelled on lochs, river and the sea through stunningly beautiful scenery, seeing virtually no other people, no cars, getting a feel for just being outside 24 hours a day and accepting whatever happened as part of the journey. Everyone enjoyed it and although our skill levels were very different Steve & Paul made sure we were all ok, all the time.
Our trip was wild, beautiful and very elemental and in the canoe I felt so much a part of it all. We fished for mackerel for our tea before carrying on up the loch to where we would camp that night and we had a feast of fish with the chanterelles we had collected earlier in the day - cordon bleu cookery was an integral part of the experience. I would definitely do this trip again... Arnie

Hi Guys,,

Just wanted to say thanks for an amazing trip - was a beautiful way to spend a week and had some really special moments - and a real inspiration to do some more exploring - and paddling

Trev

The biggest inspiration was Steve's story about how you once woke up laughing every morning for three weeks - if thats not something to strive for i don't know what is (full moon, whisky, trees, ocean and garlic chanterelles has surely got to help you on your way!)
x Emily


We spent time on the first day, re-learning our rusty strokes. But the wooden paddles, splashing at the start of the day, started to find their rhythm and were soon clipping easily through the smooth, dark waters of the loch. On and on we went, getting further and further away from the warmth and comfort of home until we finally camped, as the sun set on an exquisite beach. Supper was freshly-caught trout, smoked over the campfire, followed by single malt, nothing could upset the moment.
Paul

Lakelander '06

Hi guys,
Just wanted to say thanks for a really great weekend in every way. I feel inspired and excited about the canoe now in a way I didn't imagine at all before and look at rivers in a different way!
Thanks to you and Paul for putting so much into the weekend and making sure we all had such a rewarding time.
All the best
Sue