We had thought to get to the first cove that night but decided it was not worth the misery of banging into to weather just to leave port. Think this comes under don't prove your seaman ship if you do not have to. So we snuggled up down below to wait it out.
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| Blowin' Scotties off chains! |
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| Gus, Charles and Kirk waiting out the storm. |
Spent the evening at the port pub, went grocery shopping and set up to leave early next morning.
The weather had lightened a bit so we decided to go with the wind on a nice beam reach to the Isle of Arran. Had a bit of swell but a beautiful sail. Our guest on board was not too happy but he survived his first day at sea. He did not like being so far from land. Can't imagine what he thought when we said we were going cruising?
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| Charles getting his sea legs, or not! |
Anchored at the Isle of Arran, Lochranza in about 15 feet of water and went to shore. Found a pub, served beer and lattes, could not be happier and the dogs were in haven rolling in all the stinky seaweed on shore.
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| Gale enjoying her latte. |
Gus on the cliffs at Locharanza
This should of given us a heads up on how big the tides might be. But oh know I was just concerned about the stinky dogs.
Had dinner aboard and very peaceful night at anchor. Next morning i dropped the hatch boards overboard so Gus had to go diving. Good news was the tide was going out so you could easily see the bottom. This is good news in this scenario. Gus suited up, water pretty cold and a lot of jelly fishes and rescued the hatch boards. Kirk decided to make breakfast as the tide continued to recede. As I was looking out as the tide went out I saw the anchor starting to appear on the sand bar ahead. This was going to be fun. Kirk decided to have breakfast first then deal with it, maybe the tide would change. This had to be low tide, lucky as we are it was and had no problem and a nice breakfast with a close real close view of the beach.
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| Shore approaching pretty fast and we are at anchor! Opps! Soon we will be able to walk a shore and pick up the anchor. |
Off to Goats Fell. This is the mother of all death marches and Kirk was lagging. I decided to skip this trip and enjoy a little peace and quite on the boat. We anchored at low tide so no problems there. The boys headed up the Fell and it was a major hike. Kirk was past by a 4 year old near the top which gave him the incentive to make it to the top.
The weather was incredible the whole trip, sunny and we sailed every where, no powering. Made it to Tarbert Loch Fine and it did not look anything like the one Gus and Kirk raced at a few weeks ago. It was windy and overcast the whole race series, really beat them up. When we pulled in it was sunny and calm.
Enjoyed the shoppes and had breakfast with Isobel at The Cullins B&B loads of food and delicious dogs welcomed. And hiked up to the castle ruins and had a spectacular view.
Could not pass up a dinner at the Starfish, best seafood ever. Gus learned how not to drink a Scottish Whiskey. The waitress brought Gus a Scottish Whiskey and Gus proceeded to stir it. This is the first time I have ever seen a waitress give a customer the what firth in not so many words. Could not believe Gus stirred it. Now we know that you are suppose to drink the whiskey through the cream not stirred, as she spent a lot of time making it just right, not an easy thing to do. Gus asked why she gave him a spoon? She responded with a humph "for drinking the last dregs of the drink . She was to say a bit miffed. Now we all know how to drink a Scottish and probably Irish whiskey .
Made a quick sail up to Otter Ferry. Gus took a swinging jump off a halyard after carefully spotting for jellyfish.
We had dinner at Oyster Catcher Inn, we meet Basil, yes the Fawlty Towers Basiil. Very entertaining and lovely place to anchor. Scotland have blue buoys (pronounced boys) which are free to anchor at and we found these all along the way. Was a bit tricky getting there as at low tide more than 3/4 of the channel is out of water. We were for warned and had no problem.
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| Tighnabruaich - this is the long spit that is mostly under water except at low tide. Easy hit if not careful. |
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| Sun setting over Otter Ferry, boats anchored out. |
We headed next to the Kyle of Bute and sailed around the island and anchored it a cozy cove up the inlet called Glen Caladh The boys took the dinghy to town and we walked the dogs when they returned.
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Went to a few more ports then headed home, beautiful week of sailing. It only rained the day we arrived and the day we left. Could not of asked for more out of Scotland.
On our drive home we went looking for Hadrians Wall. Took a little doing, most of it that is easy to access has been reused and not there any more. So we hiked up a large escarpment and found some remains on top of the hill. The view at the time was the edge of the civilized world. Incredible that something so old still survives.
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| Charles and Gus on Hadrians Wall |
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