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Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip
  • Steve and Barbara White,
  • Barbara White
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  • Steve and Barbara White,
  • Barbara White

Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

We have been thinking about this for some years and are now getting no younger. At 71 we have just decided to get on with it, so watch this space. For some odd reason Find Penguins has us in 'Woking.' Trying to sort this out as we are at home. Read more
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    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Inverness, Scotland
    Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip
    Cairngorms Aflame
    Caringorms aflameToes in the Spey

    Sat 25 July, A Trip to the Cairngorms

    5 minutes ago in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    This morning after breakfast, Steve B showed Steve and Barbara how to throw a pot on the wheel. Wonderful experience. We both made a simple pot, with Barbara doing it properly first time, while Steve managed to trash the first one but do ok-ish on the second attempt. We are quite motivated to go and do a course on this when we get home, so a huge thank you to Steve B for the experience. After this Catherine took us out for a ride around toward the Cairngorms and to Aviemore. Beautiful scenery. We saw the Cairngorms on fire with the smoke looking enormous and threatening. We visited Grantown on Spey and a bit further along, stopped by the River Spey where we had to dip our toes in the water, it seems it is a rule up here, so we have added some of our genetic material to the Spey waters for the local distilleries to use.

    Found the Cairngorm Brewery, had a bit of a taste and departed with 2 cases of ale, a bottle of sparkling cider…… and a naff T shirt.

    Back to Culloden at tea time.    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    Fri 24 Jul Inverness, a Tourist Jaunt

    July 24 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Catherine kindly dropped us both from Culloden into Inverness for half a day or so’s wander around and to do the tourist thing. A baguette, mocha and cake fortified us for the march up to the castle. While on an ancient site, the current building only goes back to around the 1830s or so. Some lovely displays of weaving and a local music band called ‘Runrig’ Well worth the visit. This was followed by a quick sprint through the Victorian Market. Plenty of Turkish barbers and souvenir shops.

    Bravely, we caught the No 1 bus to Culloden Academy and marched up the hill to Steve and Catherine’s house. On arrival, Steve B had brought in his ship’s whistle, which was not working. It took a couple of hours and a complete strip down to component parts, but Steve W managed to fix it and test it. It is VERY LOUD, but ready to be re-installed.

    A lovely day, we shall sleep well.    Read more

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    Thur 23 Jul Inverness Maintenance Day

    July 23 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We all headed to Inverness Marina in two cars. Barbara and Catherine to shops to pick up some victuals while Steve and Steve went to Halfords to procure 10w-40 part synthetic oil for Wight Mistress’s engine oil change. WM gets and oil change every year regardless of engine hours. Since departing Island Harbour on 10 April her engine had chugged on for 187 hours and we have covered 1193 miles in 105 days total, from Island Harbour to Inverness via Beachy Head, then west about.
    So and oil change was a well deserved thing. Also did both diesel filters even though they were quite clean. Barbara cleaned Wight Mistress to within an inch of her GRP skin, then hid in the corner of the saloon while Steve emptied the quarterberth in search of maintenance items and to access the engine space from the side panel (for the oil filter removal.) Always a bit of a messy experience, changing the oil filter. A little oil did drop into the bilge but Team White, armed with half a kilometre of paper towel and grim determination, and it was successfully cleaned up.    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    Wed 22 Jul Culloden to Ullapool by Car

    July 22 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We are being looked after to beautifully by our FOA friends up here. David and Christine Dawson drove the 55 or so miles, right across Scotland, from Ullapool to take us ‘up homers’ for lunch. They did point out to us that ‘nipping over to Inverness’ is just a shopping trip for them to the nearest big town. The scale of distances is different up here – so it is a good thing the roads are of a good quality.
    The scenery (apart from the grey murkiness) was stunning. We had a short tour of the area around Ullapool, stopped at the Elphin Café for coffee and a chat (where we also bought a circa 1890 clock – like you do. Then we visited a small craft fayre where we bought a pretty little jug – like you do. Foolishly, despite taking snaps of scenery throughout the day, Steve omitted to take any pictures of people!

    We ended up at David and Christine’s magnificent cliff-edge home, overlooking Loch Broome and Ullapool, with their F37 ‘Lunga’ swinging on her mooring, close to their Flying Fifteen racing yacht. A sumptuous lunch of venison, mashed root veg and broccoli, with all kinds of lovely home made things – a veritable banquet.

    Armed with a beautiful slab of traditional fruit cake, David and Christine drove us back to Culloden. A 200 mile round trip!, thank you so much. While we understand that Ullapool to Inverness is just ‘going to the shops’ for you, for us it was ‘crossing Scotland,’ to thank you again.    Read more

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    Tue 21 July, Caledonian Completes

    July 21 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After a second restful night alongside at Dochgarroch we started the final descent through bridges, a staircase and the final Clachnaharry lock, railway bridge and the Sea Lock out into the Moray Firth. What a super journey, Crinan Canal, a bit in the western isles (not enough really) and then the Caledonian Canal. Definitely recommended.

    Cathering Bunn, our diligent FOA Assistant Webmaster, joined us at Dochgarroch to help with lines and enjoy the run down through Inverness. Always good to have local knowledge embarked, AND Catherine brought cake, so Steve was happy.

    Departed the Sea Lock around lunch time and made the 1 ¼ ish mile run around to Inverness Marina, where we berthed alongside Steve and Catherine’s F34 PJ Fisher, with another F34 parked ahead of us, an F37 astern of us, and an F25 in the mix as well. (an impromptu, un-arranged Fisher rally?)

    Steve and Catherine invited us up to their beautiful home in Culloden, where they offered all those essential logistics – laundry, shower, comfy bed, good food, wine etc. Delightful, very grateful.

    We have booked Wight Mistress in to Inverness Marina for a week, so we can have a bit of a self-maintenance period (SMP) and a bit of a reset before heading north to Orkney.

    We have discovered that, after a period of moving on almost every day, a short interlude of rest and recuperation is becoming more of a necessity than before. Can’t think why……    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    Monday 20 July, Lazy Day in Lochgarroch

    July 20 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 7 - Final Night

    Glad for a quiet day alongside here, sorting out a few bits and pieces in the forenoon then lunch ashore. Met up with our friend Richard Brocklesby and went for a walk along the canal bank, back toward Loch Ness, then back to the café for a beer.

    Richard brought strawberries he bought in town this morning and we enjoyed them with him.

    We now have a bit more information about Richard’s Round Britain Charity Cruise in aid of Parkinson’s UK. His friend Andrew (they are some 20 years younger than us) contracted Parkinsons and Richard has thrown himself into raising funds for the charity, having left Plymouth on the 9th of May in his Colvic Countess 28 ‘KettyII.’

    He is on AIS as well: KETTYYII

    Richard’s story is at the youtube link below and Steve has put the QR code in the pics below. Of course you can just navigate

    to: https://gofund.me/f7d0e84d7

    His youtube link is: https://youtu.be/waOwliJ9y0E

    If you feel like donating, please click the link.

    Anyway, we are back onboard for a quiet afternoon and probably an early night.
    Tomorrow we are departing at 0930 to get through the bridges and the staircase locks before ‘Lord of the Glen’ starts the run. She is quite huge so it will be nice to be out of the way for that.

    The Crinan Canal, western isles (what little we saw) and the Caledonian Canal have been an excellent chapter in this journey and in about a week’s time, weather dependant, we will aim for Orkney – the furthest point in this story. We guess probably a week or two up there and we will start the run south.    Read more

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    Sunday 19 July, Loch Ness

    July 19 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Did the staircase at Fort Augustus this morning in one hour, from top basin to Pepperpot Lighthouse, entering Loch Ness at 0945. Made it to Urquhart Castle by noon where we coasted past and took pix. 7.5kts of wind on the stbd quarter, genoa up (Chesapeake Bay Reef (CBR)) 2.5 kts , no engine. Bliss. As the wind eased up to around 8 knots on the quarter Steve decided it would be great photo/‘dit’ value to pop the chute. within about 10 mins of faffing, chute up and flying beautifully. Spurred on by this, up went the mizzen staysail. (we were already ‘flying along’ at 4kts in 6-8 kts on the stern with just the chute but no! Steve needed the staysail for the ‘dit value.’ we pretty quickly ran out of sea room and are delighted to report that recovery of said sails went as briefed and without incident.

    We finished by sailing into the canal at the other end on the genoa passing through the small and relatively unheard of Loch Douchfour from the end of Loch Ness to bit of canal leading to the Dochgarroch Lock. Locked down and went for an ice cream.

    Our new friend Richard, single-handing his boat ‘Ketty II’ on a fund-raising Round Britain trip in aid of the Parkinsons Charity. We will see if we can add the QR code here today so if you would like to donate. Richard has sailed from Plymouth all the way up here and is about to start his return leg, all solo.

    We have decided to spend our final night alongside at Dochgarroch. Tomorrow morning our friend Catherine, who lives in Inverness, has offered to come for the ride down the last bit, out into salt water and around into Inverness Marina.    Read more

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    Sat 18 July Laggan to Fort Augustus

    July 18 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 5.

    Slightly late start this morning (can’t think why) but departed at 1025 and passed through Laggan Bridge and into Loch Oich, about 4 miles including bits of canal each end. Arrived at the top basin at Fort Augustus around 1315. We were going to press on, but the local information suggested the bottom basin would be horrid with the wind in it’s current direction. Good advice! We decided to stop for the night and explore Fort Augustus, which doesn’t take too long at all. We wandered down the lock staircase to look at Loch Ness, to find all the boats in the bottom basin bouncing around all over the place. We met Claire and Andy onboard Fisher 25 Tradewinds, bouncing around. Had a nice natter and we hope they will join the FOA. Left our cruising card for them. They know our friends Steve and Catherine Bunn; their boat is kept in the same marina as F34 PJ Fisher, Steve and Catherine’s boat. Found the pepperpot lighthouse, looking out over Loch Ness. It just comes to show that when you are out taking pictures, remember always to look behind you as well.

    Early supper in the Bothy Restaurant. Quite a nice place to eat right at the bottom of the lock staircase. Wandered back to WM for a quiet night in (QNI.)    Read more

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    Friday 17 July, Gairlochy to Laggan

    July 17 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 4.

    Left Gairlochy around 0945 and entered Loch Lochy.

    As our friend Steve Rodgers commented: ‘Ah, I see youre entering the imaginatively named Loch Lochy! Of course, nowadays it would be Lochy McLochface... 😂’

    Steve has a point.
    Lochy McLochface is about 7.5 miles long and the wind was howling straight at us at 26 knots (Force 6 in English money.) so we just motored into it, glaring jealously at the sailing boats coming the other way, enjoying a ‘Chesapeake Bay Reef’ (means just a headsail.) Some were just motoring, no idea why. Anyway, we arrived at Laggan Lock at 1150, secured up and went to look at the Eagle Barge Inn, which just happens to be straight across the canal from us.

    Topped up fresh water, plugged into electricity and went to the pub.

    Suitably refreshed it was back onboard for a quiet afternoon, where Barbara is perched in the wheelhouse in her favourite place and Steve is in the saloon doing some Fisher Owners Association Admin stuff and subsequently catching up on this blog.

    All of a sudden Barbara heard a drone flying around. A chap from across the canal was having fun flying his toy, so Steve had to join in (from the other side of the canal of course, and at different altitudes in a gentlemanly manner.) Some nice video shot, Amelia (Steve’s drone is called ‘Amelia Airhead’) was put back in her case and the battery back on charge for next time.

    We have decided that, after a long and arduous day, we will go back to the barge and have dinner there. Very sensible.

     Onboard the ‘Eagle Restaurant’ barge we met up with Kel (Kelston), Jackie and Kel’s son Bradley. Kel too the challenge for a very hot chilli – foolish – the chilli won.

    Had long natters with them about boat stuff (like you do) and were invited back onboard their Broome motor cruising ‘Boisterous Mistress’ (!) where more libation was demolished and Steve went back to Wight Mistress (!) to liberate some more whiskey. It was actually getting a bit dark by the time we meandered our way 2 boat lengths along the pontoon and back onboard for bed.    Read more

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    Thursday 16 July Banavie to Gairlochy

    July 16 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Thursday 16 July

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 3

    Banavie Top Lock to Gairlochy Lock Pontoon (you couldn’t make these names up!)

    A fairly short day today, along the canal to Moy Swing Bridge where we had to wait while the lock keepers had lunch. Lovely quiet spot for a spot of lunch. We also had to wait for a queue of boats to lock down from the other side, so an hour and a half later we were under way again, through the bridge and the double lock. The lower half was left open, only needed during times of extreme water flow it seems.
    Locked up and we were on our way to Gairlochy, where we locked up through and found a lovely quiet pontoon. A bit later a lock keeper pitched up and asked us for a fiver in cash for our electricity. Sadly we had insufficient cash onboard so we have undertaken to pay all our electricity (£5 a night extra) when we reach Inverness. We did the same in the Crinan Canal so all will be well.

    2 hrs 20 minutes from start to finish, nice short day    Read more

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    Wed 15 July Neptune’s Staircase

    July 15 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 2

    First thing told, be ready at 1500 to do Neptune’s Staircase. Next thing it is 1200 and off we went. Different orders from the lock keepers got Steve confused, so there was some close-quarters manoeuvring in the basin while we got ourselves in order. A bit of confusion on Steve’s part-it seems obeying the last order doesn’t apply.

    Managed to get 5 boats into Corpach double lock.
    Anyway we got in comfortably at midday, doing the double lock and the 9 gates of the staircase in blistering hot sunshine, to exit the top gate at 1625 and stop at Banavie top basin for the night at 1645.
    Exhausted.
    Some of our intrepid travellers managed to procure ice creams from the café on the other side of the locks from us, dammit! We made do with water, lots and lots of water.    Read more

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    Tue 14 July Oban to Corpach

    July 14 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Actually we were alongside in Kerrera, opposite Oban but do please read on.

    Caledonian Canal Transit Night 1

    We met the couple on a 42-ish footer called Athena of Southampton. Mike and Angela the crew. Mike was having some problems with matching his gelcoat to sprays so he could do some running repairs – something us cruising yachties have to do from time to time. Steve was able to advise about ‘Scott-Bader’ gelcoat specialists; the colour of Wight Mistress is 3969 and it looked a bit similar. Armed with that written on one of our cruising cards, we hoped this might help.

    So, departing at 1025, recovering the dinghy into a tow, we made our way the 29.2 miles up to Corpach. What a lovely journey, inside Lismore Island are a few narrow bits and the view is stunning. Once up passed Corran, and having negotiated crossing the path of the ferry, all of a sudden there was Ben Nevis. Amazing!

    The staff at Corpach Sea Lock, the entrance to the Caledonian Canal, were very friendly. They were happy because we called ahead of time and they were ready to receive us. So if you, dear reader, decide to bimble this way then our very best advice is to call them up and let them know you are coming, even if you have booked online ahead of time.

    We locked into the sea basin at 1635 for the first night of our transit, and bimbled off to find the pub.

    Local knowledge, the ‘Tradewinds’ is next door to the Co-op and is just across the railway crossing and up the hill a few minutes.

    Suitably lubricated, we returned to Wight Mistress, where we consumed breakfast stuff with banana, yoghurt, dates and a cup of tea. Barbara disappeared to bed and Steve is sat here typing until he falls asleezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.    Read more

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    Mon 13 July Off to Oban

    July 13 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Lochaline to Kerrera (just across from Oban)

    We have had an absolutely wonderful week alongside in Lochaline. Spending quality time with friends Nick and Tracey Miller, catching the Fishnish Ferry to Mull and the bus to Tobermory, 3 BBQs in a row and just a great time chatting and chilling out. Thank you Nick and Tracey, lovely experience.

    We were going to head off around 1000, but when saying au-revoir to friends it takes a bit longer, so we slipped and proceeded at around 1025, actually sailed for all of 35 minutes before the wind dropped completely.

    So we continued the short-ish hop across to Kerrera under power, where we chose a mooring ball then changed our mind and went alongside instead.

    Over in Oban, about ¾ mile across from Kerrera, was a number of things we wanted to see and do: the Round the World Yacht Race final leg, from Washington DC to Oban, had their boats in Oban, so we wanted to see that. Also, we visited Tesco for a bit of victuals and ended up in the Oban Inn for a drink and a chat before heading back in the dinghy across to Kerrera for the night.    Read more

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    Sunday 12 July. Quieter Day in Lochaline

    July 12 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    With all the celebratory activities now successfully completed and our livers suitably treated, a quieter (and fairly short) day was required. After helping a boat alongside for fresh water and then depart, Steve lowered the majority of the bunting and around 1300 Barbara and Steve went off for a walk around the loch. We found the ‘Coalshed Café’ up and a bit away from the top of the loch, had a brief snack lunch then walked back. On the way up we had forgotten our ‘Smidge’ anti bug spray thingy, so we were bitten to smithereens on the way up. Fortunately the little shop next to the café sold the stuff, so we smothered ourselves and the return walk was so much more pleasant

    While sat having lunch, Steve called Corpach Basin on the entrance this end of the Caledonian Canal and gleaned a little intel on canal entry timings etc. The chap up there, ‘Angus’ was most friendly and helpful. So now, after our walk and a light libation at the marina bar, we are considering our next step.

    Lovely day, lovely place.    Read more

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    Saturday 11 July, RHYC Hogroast

    July 11 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today was a bit of a shorter day (the forenoon was missed due to a slightly later than usual start.) During the day we noticed a Fisher 30 called ‘Mandalay’ proceed up the loch so we decided it would be good if a couple of FOA Flag Officers would go and say hello. Dinghies were prepared and at around 1730 we departed the marina and headed the full length of the loch where Barbara and Steve diverted to Mandalay to say hello and Nick and Tracey continued on to a concrete ramp up in the corner, where we met with a fleet of other tenders all nestling around the ramp. Delightful hogroast, hosted by the Royal Highland Yacht Club, who invited RNSA members to join in. We tried to find David and Sylvia Norris, FOA members and Mandalay owners, but failed miserably to achieve it. Still we all tried, as David and Sylvia were hunting for us too.

    Dinghy run back to the marina and onboard Halcyon Sea with other sailor friends from the hog roast, Damon and Elaine and Graham and Wendy, where we sat and consumed a bit more and chatted into the wee small hours again.    Read more

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    Friday 10 July, More quiet time and BBQ

    July 10 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Again, walked up to the shops for more victuals (becoming a habit after the failed attempt at shopping in Tobermory) and had a lovely coffee in the café.

    Steve has just realised that this period in the blog is best read in conjunction with Halcyon Sea’s blog, written by Tracey who has a far better memory for what happened. Just reading it reminded this writer of the Halcyon Sea impromptu pre BBQ Pimms Party . We were all suitably lubricated and ready for more BBQ and chat with RNSA/RHYC friends.

    Thank you Tracey, memory restored a little…..

    So, the second RNSA/IHYC Impromptu pop up, byo BBQ happened here in the marina under the awning, with Lochaline Bar remaining open late for us. At the end, Barbara went to bed (very sensible) and Steve ended up onboard Halcyon Sea where a scientific investigation into strawberry Tequila, followed by Limoncella, ensued. Bit of a late night but a superb natter, spinning Scottish and RN dits into the wee small hours.    Read more

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    Thur 9 July Lochaline

    July 9 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Thursday 9 July, Quiet time in Lochaline

    Wandered up to the shop for some victuals and generally chilled out. Next thing, Sue and Stu (RNSA members) announced an impromptu, pop up, byo BBQ across the loch on the beach. So off we went. Lovely time with lovely people. Dinghy loaded up with Cobb BBQ, gas torch, victuals, liquid sustenance and folding furniture and Amelia Airhead, Steve’s drone. This, the first of 3 BBQs, was when Steve realised that the cooking plate for the Cobb was missing (doooohhhhh!!!!) but only noticed AFTER having flashed the thing up, thus wasting our last Cobblestone! Hey ho. Fortunately Nick and Tracey were far better organised so we still got to eat hot dead animals. Lovely evening culminating in Nick and Tracey coming onboard for an important Kraken-tasting event. Slept well that nightRead more

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    Wed 8 July Tobermory by Bus

    July 8 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Today was the day for a bimble to Tobermory or, if using the description of the bus ride, the Tobermory Dash!. Yesterday I had a chat with Heather about getting Tobermory and she very kindly printed off copies of the ferry and bus timetables for both Halcyon Sea and Wight Mistress. Armed with this vital information, we marched off to the ferry ramp (a 10-15 minute walk along the loch, past the sand mine.) It is amazing just how many Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) little ferries there are up here. We think the whole community of these islands and far away villages might cease to exist were it not for the Calmacs. Anyway, the Ferry from Lochaline goes to a place called ‘Fishnish’ on the island of Mull, just across the Sound of Mull to the south. The bus was easily 1 1/2 times longer than a London double decker, with 2 staircases and comfy seats. To us the bus seemed far too enormous for the island roads, and this busy route was mainly single track with passing places. We think the driver was trained by Jackie Stewart! Talk about fast.
    Any road up, we arrived safely in Tobermory with our granny trollies, aiming to go to the Co-op and RAS victuals. Passing along all the important places: chocolate shop, Himalayan craft fayre - a shop selling Himalayan stuff, and the usual shops one finds on a seaside street. Apart from the Himalayan thing, which was the first stop, where we actually bought something Himalayan each, every other shop was deemed important to return to after we had some lunch.

    We then found the ‘Mishnish Bar’ where we sensibly tested their wares and found them good. Next stop a converted chapel restaurant. Excellent food and a bit more lubrication.
    All of a sudden, once suitably fed and watered, the thought of the return trip to Lochaline loomed large, and to our surprise we had but 10 minutes to get to the bus stop. So we returned sans victuals but with full tummies and happy memories of Tobermory.

    Lochaline is a beautiful place. Glad we decided to stay a week.    Read more

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    Tue 7 July, Lochaline

    July 7 in Scotland ⋅ 🌫 15 °C

    Up late this morning. Noticed that our ready use thermos flask had, at some stage, toppled over and deposited it’s contents on the carpet. Carpet peeled back, fan heater on low, drying it all out.

    Had a late brunch (or was it leakfast?) of a mahoosive fry up and coffee. Invited next door for tea and bikkies with Nick and Tracey and we sat and chatted together.

    Needing to get some victuals and armed with local knowledge from Halcyon Sea, we bimbled off, past the sand mine (yes, there is a sand mine – it was top secret back during World War 2) past the ferry that goes from Lochaline to Fishnish on the Island of Mull, then past the social club and up the steps to the village. Very nice grocery/hardware type store with good fresh fruit and veg. Topped up two back packs and bimbled back to Wight Mistress in the rain.

    We have had such a nice reception here from Heather, who runs the marina, that we decided to pay for 7 nights, enjoy the 10% discount offered, and have a major chill-out. You, dear reader, will know that we haven’t had a stopover more than a couple of nights since Caernarfon and Howth, a while back, and we are just feeling like we need to ‘de-compress’ for a few days. Are we getting old? (don’t answer that.)

    Having discovered that we can catch the ferry to Mull and a bus to Tobermory, rather than sailing there up the Sound of Mull, we are planning to use public transport and leave Wight Mistress in her comfy berth.
    Tobermory will then be ‘tick C.’

    Steve was despatched this evening up to the marina office to stock up on ready use chocolate (already used as I write) and to obtain timetable information for ferry and buses for tomorrow. Quiet night in tonight.zzzzzzzz    Read more

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    Mon 6 July, Crinan to Lochaline

    July 6 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    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

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    A bit deeper in the fresh stuff

    Sun 5 July, Crinan Basin

    July 5 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Still raining. Laundry done. Weather clagged in with miserable rain all day. Dougie and Fiona (Bavaria 39 Vela Mhor) walked down from Bellanoch Bridge to see us. Coffee and cake in the coffee shop and back onboard for tea and chat. We bought 3 books in the coffee shop: The Complete Tales of Parahandy, a book on the hisdtory of the Crinan canal and ‘The Bone Cave’ all about Scottish folk lore. While enjoying our coffees we heard that a large Dutch yacht ‘Yolo’, who left Crinan this morning, had gone aground up near Bellanoch and the canal crew were busy shifting water to raise the pound and lift them off.’ A chat with the lock keeper revealed Yolo was carrying a ton of fresh water in her tanks, so was probably a wee bit deeper than her claimed 2.3 metres.
    Curry for supper and bed with a good book.    Read more

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    They use W3W!
    Soggy day in Paradise?Sjack from Blawe MaanTanya from Blauwe MaanBlauwe Maan departsWM tucked up in the cornerSea lock controlsDougie and Fiona from Vela Mhor

    Sat 4 July Crinan Basin

    July 4 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Made it from Bellanoch Bridge to Crinan Basin, managing a slot on the south wall, near facilities and between ‘Lady Kate’ (canal tour boat) and VIC32, ‘The Puffer.’ Before slipping we were accosted by the local bakers selling warm, delicious sour dough bread. £6 a loaf! who cares, well worth it.
    Pretty much rained all the way through the Crinan Canal, apart from a brief shopping foray at the start and a 2-3 hour walk along the canal summit, when it was just showery. Just devoured half a fresh loaf with peanut butter and/or honey and a cup of tea. Beer later? (maybe….)
    1600. Yep, still raining. Dougie and Fiona (Bavaria39 VelaMhor) stayed at Bellanoch another night. Maybe we will see them again tomorrow. After a wander around to the chandlery, we ended up in the hotel bar again where we met Tanya and Sjack from their Dutch yacht ‘Blauwe Maan’ (Blue Moon) and a girl named Evie from her camper nearby. Animated discussions comparing experiences, plans and aspirations long into the evening before heading back to Wight Mistress.
    Planning on moving on tomorrow afternoon with the favourable tidal stream. Still raining!!!    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    Fri 3 Jul Cairnbaan 50%ish

    Jul 2–3 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Cairnbaan to Bellanoch Bridge

    Steve’s starboard knee giving serious gyp after yesterday’s manhandling lock gates for fun, helping the lock keepers. Weather today migMhore conducive to the hoards who were hanging around in the Crinan Basin yesterday heading out, so we wanted to press on to Crinan today. Local intel through the canal jungle drums revealed Crinan to be ‘rammed’ with boats rafted all over. So we took local advice and stopped at Bellanoch Bridge. Midges out in force now wind has dropped a bit (no pleasing some folk eh?)’

    Got away through Lock 5 Cairnbaan at 1015 and dawdled our way along, practicing driving astern a few hundred yards at a time in the summit pound between Lock 8 and 9. Managed to get through Locks 9 and 10, dropping down toward Crinan and have had to stop awhile to let the hoards through from the west. Seems Crinan Basin is full of folk hiding from the weather, all rafted up, so we stoppedfor Night 3 at Bellanoch Bridge, a bit before Crinan. Walked 45 minutes along canal path into Crinan. Imagine our surprise when we saw the ‘rammed’ Crinan basin! They have a different view of ‘rammed’ compared with ‘doon sooth’. Anyway, we made it to the pub with new friends Dougie and Fiona Auld on a Bavaria 39 ‘Vela Mhor’ out of Troon. Smashing meal in the Crinan Hotel, taxi back to Bellanoch Bridge. Onboard Vela Mhor chatting til midnight.    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    Thur 2 July 50%ish Crinan

    July 2 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Left Ardrishaig at 1120, ag arrived at Lock 5 Cairnbaan at 1306. Looks like Crinan basin is full of boats and the locks the other side of the summit are a bit full. So we have arrived at Lock number five after having had a lovely free run all the way here, to find the three other boats who left ahead of us moored up on the waiting berths and wanting to press on. We have decided to stay here the night, and let the mad rushing people through. One of the boats is a training boat full of sailing students of all skill levels, including at least two Yachtmaster candidates. They are doing a round Britain as well, but on a more severe time constraint. We have paid for four nights so we think we’re going to use four nights. so far, the canal staff have been lovely. Barry, who runs the Ardrishaig side, has been very helpful. he is out and about between the locks and bridges so if you happen to call on VHF channel 74 or on the landline, you may not get an answer.

    The best thing to do is to come round the wall into Ardrishaig and secure on the waiting pontoon. Barry will probably be with you within an hour.

    So far, this has been a lovely trip. The waiting pontoon on the left by the biatyard at No 5 Lock (Ardrishaig side) has power and water. The other side doesn’t.

    This afternoon we walked up to Locks9 and 10 at the other end of the summit, and ended up helping the lock keepers for a couple of hours, walking back, knackered.
    Looks like Cronan badin is full of boats hising from the weather, so we might just loiter here a while.    Read more

  • Wight Mistress’s Round Britain Trip

    1 July Tarbert to Ardrishaig

    July 1 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    A 2 1/2 hr ish motor (NFW) up Loch Fyne and into Loch Gilp. Barry, the lockmaster, was superb. All very relaxed. Locked in about an hour after we arrived and in a quiet berth in the basin, hunkering down while the Force 8 blows through. A couple of boats came in to hide too, and we have another boat in company with us for tomorrow. Not sure how many locks we’ll do, but it seems they are all staffed now. Scotch mist out there (the big droplet stuff.) Barbara is tucked up under electric blanket with a good book.
    We are really looking forward to sone nicer weather…….soon please?    Read more