The Caledonian Canal

As the wifi is not existent, the O2 upload is poor and the AIS is limited then we have been rather out of touch for the duration of the canal / loch network.  Now we are out and motored to Oban yesterday.

So back to the overall Caledonian Canal experience, it was incredible.  From motoring through wooded glens with trees higher than our mast and glimpses of mountains in the clearings, the trip was unforgettable.  

We entered Loch Ness in heavy rain and a flat calm but within half an hour, it was blowing force 6 with    7 and dead on the nose. We plugged ahead as the only protected anchorage / mooring was in Urquart  Bay. Picked up the one substantial buoy in the bay and had a pleasent night.

The next day sailed up to Foyer Dock for lunch

Decided to motor up to Fort Augustus that evening to get Simon needed to sort his travel arrangements out for travelling back south.  Picked up a Scouts rescue boat that had broken down (diesel in their spare tank, not petrol !) and towed them to the port.

Stayed their a couple of nights, the second night after locking up a flight of locks.  After loosing Simon onto a bus to Inverness, we motored on to Loch Oich where we moored for the night on a pontoon close to a Troll (like Pam & Alans) but covered in plants.

The next day we did some more Loch sailing, this time on Loch Lochy and anchored for lunch close to the southern end.  That evening we motored on to the top of the Gairlochy Locks and moored for the night.

In the morning we moved on down (yes going down the locks now) through various locks to Neptunes Staircase which is a set of 8 connected locks.  A bit daunting but we were getting the hang of them now.

So once out, through the swing bridges and winding our way along the canal we get our first glimpse of Ben Nevis.

Out into the Corpach basin ready to go through the sea lock, Alice goes off shopping but we are asked to lock out into Loch Linnhe because of a naval ship needed our dock space.  So I had to take Spring Breeze out through the last lock without Alice.  She came back to find the boat gone!  There was a pontoon outside the lock so crew and boat re-united, we motored off down towards Oban.  The wind was against us again!  Magnificent views all round of mountains with so few boats around to share it with. Made Oban by early evening and a seafood chowder each.