Which trolley did you take?
In 2012 I set out with a loaded kayak and a KCS Trolley that
I had bought 10 years earlier, for a trip around Wales. By the time I had reached Sand (nr Applecross), on Day 11, the
trolley had collapsed twice beneath the boat. The second time it caused significant
damaged which was later hurriedly repaired in a damp college car-park – annoyingly, this
was the only resin-needing repair of either trip.
Except for paved surfaces, I abandoned use of the trolley and took to dragging the boat
on a jury-rigged skid made from an old pipe - rather more physical, but less risky. Later Justine Curgenven came to
the rescue when she generously lent me her trolley for the remainder of the
trip.
So for the 2015 trip I was looking for a more substantial
alternative; but try as I might, I just couldn't get my hands on a robust
trolley, one that I thought would do the job. In the end I had one made, inspired by
the one Justine had leant to me.
It was all
a worryingly last minute, as the first fabricator promised but didn't deliver, but
the second came up trumps. I used this trolley daily, except for the shortest of
carries - the monster trolley across the low water springs beach on the Wirral,
the shingle at Crackington, the long grass at Dunbar, soft sand on
Ardnamurchan, the rocky beach at Worthing, and even the back streets of St Ives!
- It took everything in its stride.
On the upside it was simple and worked without a problem, I soon learnt
I could trust it whatever and wherever. It also fitted nicely inside the Taran.
On the downside it added a little weight to the boat, but
that was worth it for the reliability.
A good exped trolley is worth its weight in gold and is pretty
hard to find it seems, I'm pleased with the one I took.
