Hi Bart

At first I was thinking of arriving at Ardrishaig then dashing to the West Coast and going back to Ardrishaig then starting my crossing in the morning.

But your idea seems sensible (and has also been suggested to me by email) so I think I may sign out then start walking West and North-ish until I reach enough West-facing water to paddle in. I'll figure out the detail sometime between now and the end of January. (Or, more likely, on 11th May!)