Höstmöte 2011 - Mariefreds Båtklubb

18
(Fairways) off Cromarty Oil Terminal.
Passed close to exiting oil
tanker. Poor visibility in towards
Inverness”.
We passed the Riff Bank south
of the cardinal mark, “dolphin/
porpoise spotted”, arriving on the
rising tide at the sea-lock entrance
at exactly 08.30, the exact time of
the first lockage up.
We set foot in Scotland. After the
lockage we were able to birth in
the Marina, go shopping, have full
“English/Scottish” breakfast in
the Co-op cafeteria. We indulged
in showers, bought a 1-terra byte
hard disc in the local Currys and
two spare diesel filters in the local
chandlers.
By 14.00 we were off again,
through the swinging bridge at
Muirtown Locks, 4 locks and then
a second swinging bridge. By
16.15 “Loch Ness opens up before
us – beautiful”. By 17.00 we pass
Urquart Castle and at 1945 “arrive
in Fort Agustus, go for dinner in
“The Bothy”, single malt whisky,
Scottish balladeer (Dave)” who
sang out a sample of Scottish
folk songs and sea-shanties. But
the night did not finish there – at
“23.00 – Michele swims in Loch
Ness”.
July 2nd
(day 6 on the water)
We were out of luck with the
locking-up. A fishing boat was
waiting so the lockkeepers began
locking down. We entered the lock
at 09.35 and began the second leg
of our journey through the Caledonian
Canal. The log at 11.00
records “exit locks, Michele works
Delilah´s segling till Irland
her magic and obtains charts for
Oban from Norwegians and then
manages to get them photocopied
(in colour) by lock keeper”
“11.40 – Temp. in shade 30
degrees, no wind”.
We entered Loch Oich at 12.25
and by 12.40 were hit by a blinding
thunderstorm and ferocious
squalls. One of the boats in our
little flotilla of four had to turn
back, unable to make any headway
with their outboard motor. With
oilskins peek, peek-cap under and
sunglasses, it was still impossible
to look straight into the gale.
Boats were approaching with the
storm. A warning sounded. One
boat navigated the wrong side of a
leading mark. Chaos.
And then all calm again – we
entered Loch Lochy at 14.00, spotting
Ben Nevis at 15.20, which
meant that Bannavie, and Neptune’s
Ladder was not far away.
“16.45 Arrived Bannavie/Neptune’s
Staircase (nine locks).
Informed we would be unable to
lock-down tonight as boat already
locking-up. Rain, humid, midges”.
Locking through Neptune’s Ladder
takes at least 90 minutes. We
bedded down for the night. Put
up the cockpit tent. Had a shower.
Logged on to the Internet – all part
of the service on the canal and had
dinner in the nearby hotel.
July 3rd
“08.00 Entered Neptune’s Ladder
at Fort William, walking Delilah
down the 9 locks, Michele on bowrope,
Björn on aft”.
At 10.30 we exited Copoch Loch
and were on the open sea again.