Mon 6 July, Crinan to Lochaline

With the tidal stream up past the Gulf of Corryvreckan favourable for us from around 1600, and it taking about an hour from exiting Crinan Sea Lock to the southern tip of a little island called Coiresa, we decided to lock out at 1400 to give us time.

Still raining.
The big New Zealand motor cruiser locked up on her way through the canal this morning and our friends in Vela Mhor arrived down into the basin. They are staying here for a day or two before heading around the Mull of Kintyre and back to their home port of Troon.

We were aiming to go straight up to Oban as we need to get some food shopping done and we were advised that the little shop in Craobh is not open so we decided to head straight for Lochaline (similar distance as Oban) where there is a small grocery store up the hill, or we could catch the ferry to Fishnish, across the Sound of Mull, and the bus to Tobermory, where there is a good Co-op.

2005. Arrived at Lochaline and berthed as advised by Nick Miller, fellow RNSA and FSMBC member, that the berth across the finger pontoon from their boat, ‘Halcyon Sea’ is berthed.

After sorting ourselves out Nick and Tracey invited us onboard for a cup of tea, which was actually tea, a hot meal and wine!! Thank you so much guys! It had been a bit of a lumpy run up for 6 hours from Crinan and as always it seems, it was still raining. We hadn’t seen Nick and Tracey in some months, so it was great to catch up. Chatted til 0200 and then hit the sack.

Thinking ahead, while we would also like to visit Tobermory, it is all weather dependant. The locals tell us the weather is going to improve shortly…. we truly hope so.Read more