Inverness: A Long Week

Inverness: A Week of Recharge, Realisations, and Readying for the Canal!

The last week had taken its toll. We had, in a single week, navigated the East Coast of Scotland, tackled some of the trickiest marinas we'd encountered, and endured multiple consecutive days of sailing. We'd faced dense fog and very windy weather, and to put it bluntly, we were utterly knackered. A quick glance at Inverness Marina's pricing structure, noting the slightly cheaper weekly rate, combined with a check of the weather forecast, solidified our decision: a full week's stay was the best option. This would grant us much-needed time to recharge and tackle those essential boat jobs before entering the mighty Caledonian Canal. Had we made the right choice? Only time would tell.

Here's how our week unfolded:

Wednesday (Arrival Day)
Arrival & First Impressions: We arrived into the marina on Wednesday, June 25th. The first thing that struck us was the delightful, fresh scent of cut wood, a lovely pine aroma filling the air. This, we soon discovered, emanated from the large area adjacent to the marina occupied by Scot Bark, where freshly cut logs and ornamental bark were piled high.

Late Night Fuel: It was late, and our food supplies had dwindled to critical levels. A quick decision was made: pizza delivery! Our order arrived within a speedy 25 minutes, providing a much-needed end to our travel day.

Thursday (The Great Grocery Trek)
Shopping Expedition: Thursday was designated as shopping day. We had attempted to order a Tesco delivery, but the earliest available slot was two days away, and we desperately needed daily essentials like milk and bread. Tracey embarked on the 30-minute walk into town, which took her through the marina's somewhat industrial surroundings.

Tesco Truths: While it proudly bore the name "Tesco Superstore," it didn't quite live up to the grandeur we were accustomed to down South; it was a relatively small store. Prices weren't exactly a bargain either, but Tracey managed to buy enough provisions for the entire week, knowing we'd need another trip before the canal.

Taxi Rescue: A taxi was called to ferry the shopping back to the marina; even our trusty shopping trolley wouldn't have coped with the sheer volume of bags Tracey had amassed!

Friday (Laundry, Laughter, and Long-Distance Calls)
Chore Time: Friday meant laundry day! This most mundane of chores provided Tracey with a welcome opportunity to spend a couple of hours away from the boat, catching up on the blog and editing photos.

Unexpected Encounter: While sitting there, an older gentleman entered and struck up a conversation. He offered ideas on places to visit, but then, quite unexpectedly, launched into his entire life history! Tracey found herself subtly trying to message Nick, a silent plea for rescue.

Telepathic Rescue: Luckily, her telepathic thoughts (or perhaps just excellent timing) clearly got through, as Nick and Pepper arrived, bearing welcome refreshments. Just like that, the little man scurried off. How bizarre!

Virtual Dice Game: Friday night, we caught up with Mike and Anne, Nigel and Sarah, who were all out on their boats and in Emsworth for the night. We managed to play a lively game of dice over FaceTime, which, after a few "bevvies" on both ends, became quite hilarious. It was the first time we had all seen each other simultaneously since we left, and we genuinely wished we could have been there in person. We truly miss our friends and family, so we always cherish any opportunity to catch up.

Saturday (Canal Glimpse and Cromwell's Legacy)
Canal Preview: Saturday's adventure involved a walk to the very start of the canal, eager to glimpse what the initial steps of our next big challenge looked like. The walk took about 40 minutes, and despite being incredibly windy, it was a warm breeze.

Retail Reconnaissance: On the way, we passed a large retail area, complete with a Lidl, Aldi, Co-op, and the usual array of shops found in such locations. It was right next to another marina, one we'll actually transit through as part of our canal journey. We briefly wished we'd booked here instead, but no matter, we were managing fine.

Lunch & History: After a delicious lunch at Jammy Piece (a charming cafe), we made our way back to our marina. It seemed to take forever! Nick had noticed a monument with a blue plaque on it on the way out, so we decided to investigate on the return. It turned out to be a clock tower, now the sole remaining structure of Cromwell's Fort in Inverness.

More Virtual Connections: Back on the boat, we had arranged another catch-up FaceTime call with friends Mike and Sarah. It was so good to see more familiar faces, though it brought with it that familiar tinge of homesickness. Unfortunately, both our phones died mid-call, so we arranged to finish our catch-up on Sunday.

Sunday (Bikes Unleashed!)
Bike Resurrection: The excitement for Sunday was palpable: we actually got the bikes out of their long-term storage in the back cabin and brought them up on deck! Tracey's tires were flat, so we spent some time checking them over.

Pepper's Pedals: We tried Pepper in her basket, and while she didn't seem overly keen, we're optimistic she'll adapt. We then took Tracey's bike up the road for a test spin, with Pepper running energetically alongside her. When they turned around and Nick called Pepper back, she easily outpaced Tracey – she was incredibly fast!

Monday (Weather Woes & Canal Booking)
Dull Day: Monday was a rather uninspiring day. While everyone down South was basking in glorious sunshine, we endured persistent wind and rain. We know this is Scotland, but it did nothing to improve Tracey's mood.

Engine Maintenance: Nick also carried out essential engine checks, changing the oil and oil filter, and inspecting the fuel filter and impeller.

Tech Troubles: Adding to her frustration, the Wi-Fi here was unreliable, and she was having technical difficulties downloading photos and videos from the GoPro, further dampening her spirits.

Canal Excitement: However, the day ended on a slightly better note: we successfully booked our transit through the canal (how exciting!), enjoyed a lovely steak dinner, and watched the final two episodes of "Waterfront."

Tuesday (Final Preparations & Lock Keeper Kindness)
Boat Prep: Today (Tuesday), Nick spent time cleaning the decks and unpacking the dinghy, inflating it and getting it ready for next week.

Lock Keeper's Lifeline: He called the sea lock, as requested on the Scottish Canal's website, to arrange our lock-in time for tomorrow. He explained our predicament regarding shopping, and Matt, the lock keeper, was incredibly understanding. He assured us it wouldn't be a problem and arranged for us to have a couple of hours alongside in the other marina tomorrow morning so we can nip off and grab our essential supplies.

Optimistic Outlook: The weather here today is sunny, and the winds have died down. It's likely to be light winds for the start of our transit tomorrow. Everything is working out as planned, and we are both incredibly excited for this next highlight of our journey!Baca lagi