Day 3 - Fort Augustus

Day 3 - Fort Augustus: Weather Woes, Hidden Gems, and a Card Game Comeback!

The weather, as grimly predicted, was utterly dismal. Cold, wet, and relentlessly windy – in a word, miserable. Movement was clearly off the cards for us, and indeed, for everyone else in the marina. We resigned ourselves to a day of playing tourists in Fort Augustus, albeit damp ones.

Our morning began with a wonderfully lazy start, simply pottering around on Halcyon Sea. As we were pottering, we heard a shout from the pontoon. A guy from a hire cruiser boat, berthed just in front of us, was requesting some assistance. It transpired that they had arrived from Muirtown two days previously and had required help from four other people just to get alongside here. While the challenging weather had been a factor, they admitted they hadn't moved for two days because they were simply too terrified. The hire company required their boat back by the end of the day, meaning they had to turn the boat around and head back across Loch Ness. Nick went up and calmly explained to them how they could use the elements – specifically the wind – to turn the boat around. They were about to let go of all the wrong lines, which would have made their situation far more difficult.

Their story corroborated what we had already been told about these hire cruisers: people pick up a boat, watch a 20-minute video, are taken to a lock for a brief practice session on coming alongside, and then they are essentially let loose. They aren't provided with a radio, which, while understandable given they have no qualifications, makes it incredibly difficult for them to call ahead for advice when approaching a lock or swing bridge. To be honest, the start of the canal was terrifying for Tracey, so the thought of embarking on this journey with absolutely no prior experience seems quite ludicrous.

Fort Augustus Abbey, Pepperpot Lighthouses, and a Canine "Oops!"

After this unexpected interlude, we ventured out during a brief lull in the rain. We walked down to the spit of land where Loch Ness dramatically opened up before us. A charming family of ducks dabbled near the shoreline, and Pepper, ever the enthusiast, was desperate to join their aquatic games. This walk led us in a loop back to our mooring. We discovered a wonderful vantage point to capture a picture of the impressive Fort Augustus Abbey. We then passed a dilapidated bridge, adorned with a very obvious warning sign (a picture of which we'll share – it certainly got our attention!).

Next, we braved a walk up the towpath alongside the five locks we hoped to ascend tomorrow, before ducking into a welcoming cafe for a much-needed hot chocolate and cake, waiting for the next downpour to subside. We then walked back along the opposite side of the canal from where our boat was berthed, and to our delight, finally found the elusive green light! If you recall from yesterday's entry, we couldn't locate it. The reason? It's charmingly housed within a miniature lighthouse, known as a Pepperpot Lighthouse, nestled near the bottom of the path. This is one of three such distinctive Pepperpot Lighthouses along the Caledonian Canal. We paused to capture another moody picture of Loch Ness, its vast waters still shrouded in mystery.

We had delved into some of the Abbey's history and read about a cemetery where former monks were laid to rest. Following a walking trail, we soon stumbled upon the very cemetery. The trail led us through a beautifully wooded area, a perfect spot to let Pepper run off-lead. She had an absolute ball, sniffing every nook and cranny with joyous abandon. The trail eventually came to an end, and as we opened the gate that led back to the main road, we noticed a sign: "Dogs should be kept on a lead." Oops! Ah well, no harm done, and Pepper had certainly enjoyed her freedom.

Takeaway Treats and a Card Game Comeback!
We circled back towards the boat, picking up a Chinese takeaway menu on the way. Our onboard meal plan suggested pasta with sauce, a dish that, due to its ease of preparation on the boat, had featured a fair bit lately. Tracey, however, simply couldn't face it. The thought of another pasta dish was just too much. We ordered our takeaway, which proved to be absolutely delicious, and then settled in for a few games of Five Crowns, a card game. What started as a casual few rounds quickly escalated into a full-blown tournament, with Tracey, for once, emerging as the triumphant victor!

We eventually went to bed, silently praying for better weather tomorrow. We truly needed to move; our seven-day canal license was ticking away faster than we'd hoped, and although the sheer length of Loch Ness meant we'd completed more than half the canal's distance, we still had plenty more to explore. Despite the dreary weather, it had been an unexpectedly interesting day, filled with small discoveries and a well-deserved win for Tracey!Читать далее