Wed 29 Jul, The Pentland Firth Crossing

Local knowledge dictates that a crossing of the Pentland Firth northwards requires starting 2 miles due east of Duncansby Head at High Water Wick. Today that start was 1227, so the calculations were done. Further local knowledge recommends keeping close inshore in Sinclair’s Bay, just north of Wick, to avoid the foul tidal stream.

Working to the Royal Navy’s definition of ETA - ‘EXACT Time of Arrival’ we worked our speeds to get there right on time. Our uneventful crossing had us alongside in Longhope’s tiny harbour by around 1530. After checking out the visitor moorings 2 of them, very good but on one, the pickup buoy was jammed under the mooring buoy) PJ Fisher came into the little port to raft up alongside Wight Mistress.

Barbara’s cousin Linda and husband Keith invited both crews home for tea and cake, and supper. Lovely conversation, revealing that Linda and Keith had acually bought their motorhome from Steve and Catherine’s company, highlandcampervans.com, 14 years ago.

Barbara’s cousin Linda and husband Keith have lived in ‘Daisybank,’ their croft on Longhope Sound for 43 years. When they bought it in 1983 it needed some serious work and the plot was bare, barren and boggy. It is a mark of their hard work and dedication that their home is now situated in a self made woodland, with a number of private gardens and meadows, beautifully tended and providing a lovely level of privacy and protection from the winds.

After tea and a good natter, Keith gave Catherine and Steve a lift back to PJ Fisher in Longhope, across the sound but quite a way by car. Steve and Barbara are staying at Daisybank for a few days.Read more