Tuesday 30 June A Walk in Scotch Mist

‘Scotch mist’ is what we think this is called. Bit of a late start with cups of tea and breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambledy eggs, we ventured forth to the office and paid for our 2 night stay, then braved the showers. The facilities here are very good. Back onboard for an hour to dry hair, have the prerequisite mocha and then probably a bimble ashore to explore..

Scotch mist and midges were the order of the day. It seems the little bug(gers) had gone into hiding through the heatwave and thunderstorms but were now out in force. A visit to the pharmacy on the loch provided some anti bug cream that actually seems to work – hoorah.

Popped into the office to speak to Kyler, who runs the place. There are two Fishers alongside near Wight Mistress: F30 Bonnie Kate and F25 Enterprise, neither boats show up on the FOA lists, so Steve wrote a nice short message on the back of our cruising cards and asked Kyler if she would get them to the owners; she kindly agreed.

Started walking at around 1300 and didn’t return to Wight Mistress until around 1730. We walked up to Tarbert Castle and around the Community Woodland behind, then along the south side of the harbour to Waverley Pier. Imagine our surprise when, shortly after arriving there, around the corner came the Paddle Steamer Waverley. What a beautiful sight. We watched her berth, discharge and embark passengers, then spring off, make a sternboard out into the middle of the loch and then head south, Waverley’s next stop: Largs.

Tomorrow we are aiming to start at a reasonable but slightly earlier time for the 9.8 mile run, straight up Loch Fyne to Ardrishaig, the southern end of the Crinan Canal.

When we look at the map generated here by Find Penguins, it is amusing to see that we have ‘scribbled’ all over the map with our tracks and antics, like some loony kid with a crayon. We describe this part of our voyage as Chapter One, from Campbeltown to Ardrishaig. It has been fun, if a bit weather-wearying, with every thing from fog to gale force winds to bright sunshine, rain (proper stuff) and now this Scotch Mist. Thank goodness for our wheelhouse and our raincoats (only for going ashore of course.)Read more