2 days to departure, or so I thought.

One step forward two backward.

Fitted Bimini cover last evening, delighted with extra facility.

Returned this am to find I'd left the toilet sea cock open and the cabin was flooded.

Started to pump out useing the manual bilge pump and pressure dropped off.

Stripped pump down (very inaccessible) replaced stuck valve; worked perfectly for a while and now stopped again.

Will need proper overhaul.

Such is life 

9 days to go

So much still to do.

Sailing directions to read and understand, tidal stream time to note, waypoints to enter into chart plotter for final detailed routes.

Provisioning and final adjustments to Swallow to make.

And at home plants in greenhouse to be potted and gardening arrangements to be finalised for a 5 week absence.

Now waking early most mornings thinking of these tasks.

We are due to depart 2 June 2014 on our attempt to circumnavigate Scotland.

On board will be Mike Bunney, Lester Sher and Alan Conn for the first leg.

The plan is to sail up the East coast of England and Scotland rounding Ratray Head, turning west to Inverness so as to enter the Caledonian canal. Traverse the canal exiting on the west coast into Loch Linnhe and down to the Sound of Mull and then to Tobemory and then on to Mallaig where we will change crew for the second leg.