Captain’s Blog: Happy 49th Birthday NASA!
Jul0
5am: All are woken by an almighty crash as our boat slams into the jetty. The wind had risen, driving waves into the harbour and causing mass upset and a distinct lack of sleep.
Our first mooring was at Drumnadrochit, after bouncing over the top of many waves. Matthew strangled the husband of the lady he had strangled previously at Fort Augustus during a terrible throwing of the rope. We trekked to the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, where the abundance of factoids about the Loch led to our brains exploding.
Proceeding down the Loch was a slow affair, fighting against wind and waves on the way to Foyers. The water was so rough that we eventually abandoned our attempt, and battled our way back to the correct side of the lock. We managed to bounce the boat quite firmly through waves, although spray did make its way over the top of the boat on several occasions.
Once we had powered through the rain, wind, waves, spray and general madness on Loch Ness we cruised towards the Fort Augustus locks. Noticing plumes of white smoke flowing from the abbey at Fort Augustus we assumed that a new pope had just been elected and celebrated accordingly (by drinking after getting through the waves). Our drinking was stalled as we moved slowly through the staircase of locks, chased by both a crowd of tourists and the large cruiser The Lord Of The Glens, which took the entirety of a lock to itself.
Once reaching the top of the locks we found ourselves floating aimlessly for some time until a nice family allowed us to double berth with them until some of the numerous boats at the top of the lock decided to go down. As it turned out there was only one boat going down, and the space it left was stolen by another boat (we think they were German, but we arent sure) which forced us into a series of half assed maneuvers until some timely assistance from the bank afforded us the best nights berthing so far.
Upon mooring up our drinking continued somewhat, punctuated only by a short walk to the nearest pub. We then retired to bed, fatigued beyond all reckoning by the trials of the day.
Captain’s Blog: 209th day of 2009
Jul0
Inverness was the first item of Tuesday, with a walk through the outskirts leading to gift shopping, a new watch battery for Janette and a browse around the Whisky Shop for Nick and Matthew.
After watering up at the base we headed off aiming to get to Tomnahurich and enjoy a swim in the local leisure centre. After a brief wait for the midday bridge closure to end we passed through and moored up. Swimming was successful, although the rapid river was more of a gently flowing river. Nick would like it to be noted that on the high-speed flume he ran out of run-off space, hit the stop at the end with his feet and managed to hit the lifeguard with the resulting spray.
Heading back to the boat we left Inverness and the bridgekeeper and pootled down towards Loch Dochfour through Dochgarroch Locks. Arriving at Loch Ness ahead of schedule, we promptly decided to aim for The Clansman.
Mooring at The Clansman involved following yet another Jacobite boat before mooring at the harbour, first end-on and later swung around sideways. Mark and Matthew went for a yomp up a mountain whilst Nick and Janette headed to the bar. After a while the two yompers came back – Mark up to his knees in mud – to clean themselves and join the bar-dwellers.
Janette headed bedwards and the men headed to the whisky. It should be noted that the barman was friendly, cheerful, helpful and knowledgable. He also poured generous measures, and if you are in the area we highly recommend a visit.
At that, we went to bed.
Captain’s Blog: Day 3
Jul0
Started today at Fort Augustus around 11.00, heading out to Loch Ness. The Loch was bathed in sunlight and a light breeze was blowing, so with life jackets strapped to our chests (or in Matthew’s case flapping uselessly in the wind) we attacked the 23 miles of open water.
Not much happened on the way to our mooring at Drumnadrochit, except for hitting and possibly concussing Nessie. West Highland Sailing were contacted and informed of a non-pumping shower which had caught Mark out during his morning rinse. Drumnadrochit was a sheltered mooring we enjoyed lunch in.
Leaving the harbour we set off on the second half of our quest up Loch Ness. By this stage the winds had risen to a veritable maelstrom, leading to Janette telling the helm to stop messing around during a tricky piece of maneuveuring out of port and sideways into the waves. For once, nobody was messing around.
The rest of Loch Ness was a continual fight against waves with awkward steering as the prop left the water between the peaks. At one point Nick almost managed to pitch the prow of the boat into the water, but the natural stability of the vessel prevented disaster.
Leaving Loch Ness was a simple affair, as was Loch Dochfour. Evidently other skippers had failed in the task of negotiating this Loch, as the skeletons of sunken coal boats littered the shore.
At Tomnahurich Bridge we encountered our first blip of the holiday, with a first missing and then somewhat agitated bridgekeeper. Once through we moored at the Caley Cruisers base, had the aft shower pump fixed, and enjoyed a very chilled evening incorporating a gentle walk up the towpath.
Captain’s Blog: 25th July
Jul0
After rising at 3.30 we had an entertaining drive up to Scotland, interrupted only by a sub-par breakfast at Cairn Lodge and a stop at Glen Coe. We also experienced a minor road traffic accident (not involving us, although we did offer first aid) outside Fort William.
Arrived at the boatyard 12.45, where we enjoyed lunch whilst waiting for our boat to be prepared. Finally got on board at around 14.15, when we experienced a 45 minute boat tour. Nick prompty took the helm and dinged the boat into a jetty.
Our first lock experience was slow due to another boat learning the ropes (literally), but after this we made good time up the Laggan Avenue with only one oncoming clipper to contend with.
Following the successful negotiation of oncoming vessels it was declared Pimms O’ Clock by all parties, and there was much rejoicing. A brief excursion up Loch Oich led to the full moorings at Invergarry, where we turned around to head back to the Well of Seven Heads mooring.
We then experienced the Cider (capital letter justified), which Mark and Matthew brewed and which actually sticks to the glass. ABV is yet to be determined, but it is not your average apple-based beverage.
Dinner was a paella – expertly prepared by Janette – and was rated a 9/10 on the Nom-O-Meter. Janette would also like it to be noted that the pan was not big enough.
At the time of signing off at 20.27 we are being persistently rocked to a state of mild discomfort by regular waterskiers. Tomorrow’s shopping will therefore include the purchase of small firearms to deal with any recurrence.