Friday 26 June. A jaunt in the Clyde

Holy Loch to Loch Goil via Rosneath Patch, Rhu, Gareloch entry and Loch Long.
Up early and finished putting the fridge’s dedicated solar panel back together. On testing in the sunshine……Success!! It was pushing out 22volts (open circuit) and seems to work ok so long as there is good sunshine. I think it’s days are numbered but for now, we will let it work and charge from the ship’s supplies as required.

Departed Holy Loch this morning. Super place, would go back if ever we sail these waters again. We made our way to the position in the Clyde, not far from Rosneath Patch Isolated Danger Mark, where the Faslane Chaplaincy cast the ashes of our departed. We stopped in position, engine off, ensign to half mast and raised a glass to our old friend Bill (Will) Johnson, a fellow ex REA and submarine WEO, who crossed the bar suddenly in January. Bill’s ashes were cast on the 28th of May (Steve’s birthday) in a private ceremony.

So, a quick nip from Holy Loch to ‘the Hole’ and on in through Rhu Narrows and into the Gareloch (just to say we had done it.) After that we dodged the thunderstorms and bimbled up Loch Long and left into Loch Goil, picking up a mooring by Carrick Castle. A quick googling reveals:

Carrick Castle is a 14th-century tower house situated on the western shore of Loch Goil in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Built by the Campbells of Loch Awe, it has hosted notable figures like Mary Queen of Scots and is a prominent part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
History and Background
• Origins: Dating back to the 14th or 15th century, the castle sits on a rocky outcrop jutting directly into the loch, once protecting its landward side with a ditch and drawbridge.
• Historical Significance: It served as a vital stronghold and staging post for the Campbells, guarding access to Loch Goil. Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots (who stayed there in 1563) are among its famous past occupants. The tower was burned down during an attack in 1685. The castle currently remains in private ownership, with protective scaffolding in place to stabilize the ruinsRead more