Day 10

Lovely night at anchor in lee of Corran, 2 moored ferries either side.

Beef Panang curry supper 

Early start to catch the tide through the narrows, even at neap tide, turbulent.

Then down Loch Linhe towards Sound of Mull, amazing atmospheric morning, swirling clouds around the peaks surrounding and overshadowing this deep loch, intermittent squalls of rain; the glory of it breathtaking.

I hope these pics give you a flavour of the day, 360 degree magic.

Good wind on the beam in the Sound and a 20 mile sail to remind us of the joy of the wind and gurgle of the sea without engine.

Turning into Tobermory bay to behold that cacophony of coloured house and sailing boats.

A rest and a chill before moving on to Mallaig on Friday.

I'll send this when I can access a strong signal 

Out of the canal

Just descended Neptunes Staircase down at the back of Ben Nevis to Corpach and the sea loch that will let us into the sea again.

Wonderful experience

Pics are infront of Ben Nevis, views along the canal, last nights mooring point and some pics in the lock

This journey has been magical, gastronomically varied; more now to come

Out of Loch Ness

Lovely night at anchor in Loch Ness, sheltered remote bay, spitting distance from shore in shallowest water, more than 10 M deep.

Up the locks at Fort Augustus crammed to capacity with vessels.

Easier now can't rush the flow of water through the locks.

Time to do a bit of washing and drying too

Lovely day

Here we go

What a lovely experience ascending 14 meters via sequential locks and through 2 swing road bridges modelled on the famous Newcastle swing bridge

The pics say it all.

Forgot to relay the incredible welcome we had yesterday lasting about an hour or so from bottle nosed dolphins dancing around Swallow jumping out of the water and doing barrel rolls.

We were shrieking with joy.

Alan has some good video footage but I will need more than a phone to send that

In the canal

Left Whitehills yesterday in another fog which thankfully did lift allowing incredible views accross miles of the Moray firth and the dramatic approach to the Inverness and Cromarty Firth.

Moored at Cromartie in the shadow of a giant towering oil rig. 

Lamb an d chicken curries for supper and off this morning into the Inverness firth through the narrows, with the tide under the bridge and into Clachnaharry lock.

After trying for 3 years, finally made it.

Going to relax this evening Alan is making Kedgeree from haddock he bought in Whitehills

Whitehills

Another wet day 

Left Peterhead at 9 am and rounded Ratray head uneventfully with a 2Knot neap tide.

My previous horror of sailing into wind over tide with massive short waves not revisited. 

Thankfully

Then on west along the Moray firth, now in gathering and increasing fog.

Some ganet cliffs on the way with thousands of wheeling birds.

Blind entry in to Whitehills on my previous tracks, in the dense mist very disconcerting, the moment you look away from the sea ahead and look back your eyes develope a searching nystagmus and a sense that the boat is turning.

Harbour Master came out to see us into the narrow approach (pics)

May head tomorrow for Cromarty so as to be best positioned to access the canal the next day.

So far we've covered 212 Nm in 42 hrs sailing (5.04Nm/hr) over 4days. 

This is hard work

Were all tired

to Stonehaven and Peterhead

No access to broadband so can't upload any message

Long far out crossing 74 miles from Eyemouth yesterday.

Little wind so motored most of the way 13 and half hours

No visable land for good part, about 40 miles off shore.

Bit disorientating having to check compass constantly.

Feeling the rythym of sea sky wind and moving slowly through the seascape.

Wonderful sky changing over dusk hours as we approached land.

Rafted up in Stonehaven an ancient fishing harbour to a Norwegian.

Midnight supper and onwards today overcast and wind on the nose.

Through the busy sea lanes outside Aberdeen, motor sailing.