Greeting us at Ardrishaig were our good friends and former neighbours from Whittlesford, Sylvia and Colin. They were to join us going through the Crinan Canal, which cuts across the 'foot' of the Mull of Galloway from Lower Loch Fyne to the Sound of Jura. Now Sylvia and Colin know Scotland very well indeed, having been visiting the area for 30 years or more. So their encyclopaedic knowledge of the area would be invaluable and there are 15 locks on this canal so extra crew would be welcome! As you can see, they are paying attention to the Skipper ...
Here they are again, still looking fresh after only 6 locks. The hard work is still to come ...
At last doing some real work ...
Follyfin looked quite majestic, if a little oversized, as she glided through the locks.
By 5 p.m. we had arrived at the top lock, just a stone's throw from the open sea below us. Much more relaxing than our usual days at sea, and rounded off with an excellent meal of fresh halibut at the Seafood Bar in the Crinan Hotel, all in all it was a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable day. Once again the sunset looking out towards Mull was splendid.
This morning, Thursday 14th June, we waved farewell to our friends who walked back along the canal to their car. Follyfin enjoyed an excellent sail up the Sound of Luing and then the Firth of Lorn (don't you just love these Scottish names?) towards the island of Kerrara just west of Oban. And here we are tonight, in the marina deliberately to wait out the gales that have been forecast. Fingers crossed that the pontoon remains anchored!
No comments:
Post a Comment