That's all she wrote!

Wed Aug. 19 2015.

                We’ve made it! The weather as forecasted has turned to crap again. We slept in and then climbed up the ladder as the tide was out. (It’s 20 feet here). Stephen and Mary were getting everything ready to go off to Spain for a month in their camper. The yard was busy with two trawlers in the dry dock. We got invited for dinner , roast lamb and cabbage and spuds and a little bit of wine and that’s all she wrote.

Thurs. Aug 20 2015

 Up early planned on pulling the mast. However Blowing 20 Raining Cows and Horses had to wear a helmet!! So no demisting. Did other jobs and then went to John and Carols for dinner and returned to the boat to sleep.

Fri. Aug 20 2015.

Another dull rainy windy day. At least we got the mast ready to pull but didn’t. Sally went off to Wexford town for a face lift and stuff and when she returned I hardly new her! No hair, blue eyelashes and a whole new her! Gorgeous I’m in love all over again! Spent the night in the BIG House at Longraid as with the wind, waves and stuff floating in the river it wouln’t have been a nice night.

Sat. Aug 21 2015

Up early and to the boat. Moved kalinka1 into the travel lift slip The Cherry/mast picker trundled up the diesel engine roared and the boat began to lift! “Hmm this isn’t quite right, maybe I should stop the proceeding “ I thought to myself. Then before I could” BANG it popped free of the step” say anything . We laid it down on a couple of saw horses and then went off for a sail with John and carol on their boat. We also did some fishing as not much wind but just right for mackerel! I caught 18 mackerel and one Pollock! I’ve still got the touch!!

Sun. Aug 22 2015

                Sally went off to church while I stayed behind and worked my fingers to the bone. There is just no rest for the boat owner! Sally returned later in the afternoon after visiting with her Mum and we had a nice drive out to Kilmore Quay for what turned out not to be a nice dinner of fish and chips and TOO many screaming misbehaved childrens! The rest of the night was much quieter.

Mon. Aug 23 to Sat Aug 29 2015

We just did boat cleanup and visiting and not much as the wind was too much to put the Mast back in! Did have a new mast step wedgie made out of Poly so shouldn’t have the problem of swelling to contend with again. Was never a problem until we left the mast in for 5 years! Anyhow we were finally able to get it stepped again on Sat. and hope to get the boat lifted on Sunday. No luck to windy and yard too busy with two new trawlers coming into the dry dock and two smaller ones lifted out on the travel lift. A busy place this is!

Mon. Aug 25 2015

Boat out by 0900 I pressure washed it while everyone else had coffee! Wait a minute I paid for them to do this!” Hmm” maybe I’m going to get a job offer? Nope.  Placed the boat in the cradle got her ready for the tarp which we put up on Tuesday cleared everything out by Wed and Thursday we had lunch with Aido and Sandra and took the bus to the airport and shuttle to Hotel. OH it wasn’t the space shuttle. That doesn’t run anymore. This was just a bus.

Fri. Sept 4 2015

0500 up showered first shuttle to airport flight delayed oh well time for breakfast! Hear Sally’s name on PA. What’s that all about? A problem with oxygen supply thingy! Get that sorted we thought. Ha! Finally start to board at 1030ish get to counter. Oh we’re not boarding you! “You don’t have the proper paper work!” “!@#$#@@@@#$%^&&&*&^((*&^%$#@##$%^^&&” We have it! You have it!” luckily we found an email with the OK from Air Canada. We were the last ones to board! Our carry on was spread all over the plane someone was in our seats no one cared! We flew home!

 End of the adventure for 2015.

               So we travelled (notice I didn’t say sail) 2109 nautical miles. We used the not so new engine anymore for 325.1 hours .  We stopped at 55 harbours or anchorages and in spite of the weather we had a Grand time. Met some new friends, Saw some old friends, had wonder full visits with family, had a lot of laughs and no tears and next year We’re off to???????????????????????????????????????????????. 

I'm finally caught up time for a rum!

Tarbert to NewRoss

Wed., Aug.,12 2015.

So we left the last lock or first lock at Ardrishaig depending on which way your  going and headed to Tarbert 7 or 8 miles down the coast. Another Motor boat trip with the only interesting happening was seeing a steam powered paddle wheeler coming up the coast at about 20 knots! Turns out it was the last Clyde steamer in operation.

We arrived at Tarbert at low water and there was a very narrow marked channel into the inner harbour where the marina was. We threaded our way in found an empty pontoon and secured the boat hooked up the hydro (know as Electric over here). Sally and Margaret went and caught the bus back to fetch the car. Tony had phoned and made reservations for us all for dinner at Stone Fish. Very nice and not particularily expensive! We returned  to the boat and had a good nights sleep.

Thurs Aug. 13 2015. Good thing it isn’t Fri!

All up early as the sun is out and it’s actually Hot! Whoopee summer is here! We went for a walk about and up to the castle on top of the hill! Margaret just made it! Nice walk tried to do some geo caches without any luck. Returned to the boat for lunch and then got Margaret to the Ferry as she was heading home. Still not over her cold. We had T&A and D&D for drinks and an early night.

Fri. Aug 14 2015 up early  Quick showers and off the dock by 0700 heading to Campbell Town another MB trip in foggy hazy conditions so not much scenery and pretty boring all in all except for the last hour when we had 15 to 20 on the nose! Go figure. We made our way up to the Marina and the marina manager was on the pontoon waiting for us and directed us into a slip and took our lines. We secured the boat and went off up town for a walk and a whiskey tour at the local Still. Didn’t like the product so didn’t buy any! Went to the Hotel for a pint and internet to check the weather for tomorrow, then returned to the boat for lamb chops for dinner.

Sat. Aug 15 2015 Woke up to heavy rain and wind Oh Joy. Forecast was for it to diminish later in the day. Hope so! As we determined we needed to leave at 1400 to catch a fair tide across the North channel to Ireland. We’re really just on a delivery now! Running with and dependent on weather windows with favorable tides. We went up town for breakfast  and to the Library for the internet. Checking the weather again, window still open.

The wind dropped as forecast and off we went for Bangor Northern Ireland. It was back to our usual summer weather 4 layers and when it got dark we were up to six. Sailed most of the trip at 6-7 knots. Nice sunset and arrived at Bangor early Sun. morning.

Sun. Aug. 15 2015.

0001 We are having a nice night. The stars are out and this is the first time we have seen them all summer! Dark on the water but the lights of Bangor and Belfast give us enough light for us to see the buoys, but dark enough we can see the other boats and ships that toing and frowing from Belfast harbour.  0100 we entered the Marina found an opening on the hammerhead of a pontoon tied up and hit the sack. Tired campers we were. 0430 Wide awake! Whom m I kidding? Stumbled out of bed put the kettle on checked the weather, Still OK so underway at 0500 with the tide that will carry us South for 96 miles to Dublin we hope.

Well it didn’t. we had a nice ride until we were off theSkerries and then the wind wind filled in from the S/E where it wasn’t forcasted which put it on our nose at 15 knots so our speed and comfort went for a dump! We were down to 2 to 4 knots with lots of banging , thumping and rolling. We persevered only because we didn’t have a choice and made it to Howth  at about 0830. Dark windy an no stars here! Also they had taken out all the marks we were used to and replaced them with small cones. Low tide so we gingerly entered into the marina saw a spot on the outside of a hammerhead started to turn around and touched bottom! Came to a stop! Reversed, ¾ throttle popped out like a cork from a bottle! Wiggled foreward in 4ft of water. We usually need 5 ½ made it along side. Had a drink and collapsed into bed. Oh and Rain to finish off the day!

Mon. Aug 17 2015

0400 UP! Baahh!! Tides remember. Underway at 0500 for Graystones. It was just light enough we could see all the marks. Didn’t touch and we motor sailed all the way arriving at around 0830. First time here. A nice new facility still under construction with a huge breakwall surrounding the whole place. We tied up had something to eat had to pay our tyth of 10 pounds as we were only staying to catch a favourable tide. Underway again at 1400 for Arklow. We only have 24 hours to make Kilmore Quay before the excrement hits the fan again An uneventfull passage in sunshine and down to 2 layers! Found space on the pontoon secured and went up to the mall for some shopping and had burgers for dinner as neither of us wanted to cook! Early to bed getting exhausted!

Tues. Aug 18 2015

0100 I should be going to bed but getting up instead! We got under way with the tide and no wind. Cleared out of the Harbour course set to round Arklow head which we did in ½ hour then set the auto pilot to take us down the Irish Sea. Sally went back to bed for a while. It was a nice fast passage at 7-9 knots and we arrived at Kilmore Quay at 0830. John and Carol Gibbon joined us for the trip around the Hook and up the Barrow river. The tide change and we were underway at 1300 with a bit of a breeze on the Nose but with the tide we made it around the corner and headed up stream Sailed for about 2 whole hours without the Motor on! Wow!! Tide changed wind got fluky and dropped so on went the motor and we made good time up the New Ross Boatyard our winter home again!

Oban and the Crinan Canal

Monday Aug.,10 2015.

                Not much point in getting up so rolled over! Eventually we arose went for a long hot shower had some breakfast and then caught the 1030 bum boat in the rain across the sound to the thriving metropolis of Oban. Oban was not on our list of stops this year but because of the weather it became one! We did the walk about thingy and did some grocery shopping and I bought a new gas tank for the outboard and a proper courtesy flag for the UK! Not the Union Jack but the Red Ensign.

                We had wanted to get out to the Island of Iona when we were at Tobermory but bus schdules and timing didn’t allow it and there were no hire cars to be had. We couldn't sail there either as the wind was wrong and was going to stay wrong for the forseeable future. Sally’s idea was we can take a tour bus from Oban. Good idea except the schedule was wrong. The next one wasn't until the next weekend! Phooey foiled again!

                Tony and Anne were off on what turned out to be a failed attempt to find Racor fuel filters. We all returned back to the marina via the bum boat in the pouring rain with a little hail thrown in! had drinks on board and then went up to the restaurant for a delicious dinner. It was going to be our last dinner together  as we were going to part company and go our separate waythe  next day

Tuesday Aug., 11 2015.

                0525 departed Oban with foulies , Radar and running lights! Not to mention long johns,Fleecy pants, flannel shirt wooley sweater, socks and hat! Made our way down the sound with the tide on our way to Gigha. 

Gigha was another of those previous places we weren’t going to visit again but.

                We motored  guess where the wind was? Nope there wasn’t any! Dawn arose I could tell as the murk got lighter! There off in the distance we could see,,,,,,,,,,,, nothing but a Great Big blanket Blang fog bank! “Gee wilakers” said I. “ @#$%^%$#&*()&^!@#$%$$^&&**(_(*&^^$%#@@” said Sally. The Crinan Canal is right over there, pointing off to our Port side at a ray of sunshine shooting down through the battleship grey clouds and directly over the flashing neon sign, “Crinan Canal this way -> guaranteed sun no wind and a nice place to be”! We looked at each other with loving eyes” oops disregard that it’s a different story”. Hit the minus button 7 times on the auto pilot and  ½ hour later we were loitering off the entrance waiting for the opening.

Eventually the gates to guaranteed heaven(that’s what the sign said) opened a couple of boats washed out and we crambed in with 4 other boats. The Sea gate closed, the water flowed we arose to heaven! The gates opened and standing there was ,,,,,,,,,,,not St. Peter but Jock the toll collector! OK no heaven yet but that’s OK have lots to see and do yet so happy to wait.

                We motored through the holding pool and into another lock behind two other boats. “Things are getting a little tight” and before we got secured and squared away a power boat came steaming in behind and to our starboard side caught our fenders and shoved us fore ward into the back of the other sail boat!(Crystalyn) Our anchor drove into the seat separator of the walk through transom. Cracking it! NOT happy was I. The gates tried to close and I had to pull us further in to let them. We had time to settle down and we motored down through some stunning scenery and the sun came out and we delayered right down to bare skin!  At the next lock Dave and Dawn (the people we goosed) entered first tied on the port side, we entered and tied on the Starboard side snuggled up. Bozo the power boater tried steaming in again before we were ready! Got out of control and got sideways in the lock! I” politely told him to get his boat away from me and that there was no room”  He muttered something, probably a good thing I’m deaf and drove out. The gate closed we arose( I like this arising bit). The gates opened and we exited and there was, wait for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, another Lock and Bozo who started in on Sally about there being more room in a lock than two boats. 

              BIG MISTAKE 

              I’ve never seen Sally that Mad (even at me) She was speechless for all of three seconds! I counted on my super accurate citizen shakeum watch! Bozo should have seen what was going to happen but being a Bozo was not smart enough to run away!  Man there wasn’t even a little warm up It was full blast, non stop and lasted for 15 minutes at least! The world actually stopped spinning! Bozo visibly wilted and shrunk and missus bozo (who I guess was there for support) slunk away leaving Bozo all alone to face the wrath. Sally stopped to take a breath, the world started up again and Bozo ran away as fast as his chubby little legs would carry him! Everyone near and far sang hozzanna’s and genuflected and sang praises and through flowers  in praise of St. Sally! I just kept my mouth shut. The Gates opened and we proceeded.

We stopped at the next lock for the evening and because there was a pub there! Had D&D on board for drinks and then we went off to the pub for a pint.

Wed. Aug., 12 2015. 0700 up no point any earlier as the locks don’t start until 0800. Had breakfast and tea. Margaret going to join us at around noon. We’re only six miles from the end so will take our time. We followed Cristolyn( D&D’s) through the rest of the system and then we had to stop at the top of the second last lock while the staff went for lunch. Margaret arrived and we had a nice visit and she decided to join us on the trip up to Tarbert so we unloaded her car parked it. Descended to the Sea and motored for  8 miles to Tarbert.

The Other tobermory

Thursday August 06 2015

                Today we have a break in the weather! If we leave early enough we can make Tobermory before it starts to blow again on the nose again!

                We get up at our regular 0600 cast off in the fog and head S/E at 6 knots on a reasonably flat sea. We have breakfast under way do some motor sailing until the wind shifts more ahead! Will we make it is the big question? We have a mug of soup. I can see a large number of sailboats off in the distance. It’s a race. It’s sailing week. A week of races around the marks and distance races to 3 Harbours, Tobermory, Oban and?  

                The good thing for us is that Tobermory does not reserve moorings so if the boats are out racing and the mooring is free then no problem to pick it up. We sail by two of the fleets about 60 boats. We approach Tobermory and low and behold there are a whole big bunch of empty moorings! So we grab the first suitable one. We’re secure. A lot of the others have dinghy’s attached.  As it turned out we were on a private mooring so there was no charge for it! Others were paying 10# a day.

                I built the dinghy and we went ashore with our trash and had a walk about to stretch our legs and reconnoiter. (reconnoiter, a French word for look around and spy). We had a Pint in a local pub 1 of many and listened to accordion music. We returned to the boat checked things out had a drink and watched the fleet come in! then the wind generator began to make electricity in ernest. W e settled in for the evening.

Fri. Aug.,07 2015.

                We got up at a reasonable hour. I bailed out the dink loaded up with our laundry and ashore we went. Started the washing and then off to the tourist Office for what’s happening? And then off for a coffee and sticky bun. Got the laundry into a dryer  and saw Sea Pilgrim sailing in so we helped them tie up. Then off for a bus ride to the other side of the Island and a walk midway back for a pub lunch. We returned to the boat had a bite and then dinghyed over to Quiver for drinks with John and Frida who we had met in Mallaig.

Sat. Aug., 08 2015.

                Blowing stink again! Rain so hard it came in through the solid ports and dripped on the Nav Table! I’ve had a @#@$%^&*^%$$$%#@ enough. So we went ashore and had coffee with Anne and Tony. Sally went and bought a Battenburg cake. I bought some gas for the outboard and we had Scallops and mussels for dinner.

Sun. Aug., 09 2015.

                Sally off to church with Tony and Anne. I did boat stuff and got ready to leave as another window opened up. We got underway at about 1400 and started sailing but as our house bank was empty we decided to turn on the engine! And motored most of the way. Blowing hard when we arrived so grabbed the first pontoon we saw and made fast. Problem was, Stern to the wind and rain! And there was lots of both. We had sundowners and then Pizza for dinner.

Mallaig

Sun. Aug 2 2015.

 Hunged over! I was poisoned! But,But we can move today. So the wenchlass hoisted a muddy anchor swabeed the deck and we got underway by 0600. A long Motor boat ride in mostly sunshine and calm water with the tide.  We eventually arrived at Mallaig found an empty Pontoon spoke to harbour Master. We couldn’t stay on the pontoon we picked but we could have the one from which a boat was going to leave at some point today. So we waited,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and waited,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and waited some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz finally they left so boom bang slam dunk we were into our new home until the next front moved through.

After getting squared away and finding out that there were Highland games going on We along with Tony and Ann from Sea Pilgrim hired a cab raced out to the fairgrounds in the rain! I didn’t mention it above but the sunshine went away just after we tied up and the rain started onced again with some wind to get it horizontal. But I  digress back to the fair grounds. Wet and Muddy. Gate keeper arrived with his hand out for the entrance fee. We paid, we entered the grounds just in time to see the last two caber tosses. Some of the award ceremonies and then we trudged up the hill to the local pub where we had a pint and got warmed up. The bottom of the thermometer had fallen off. Summer is over once again. Don’t you just hate it when Mother Nature plays games.

We returned to the boat plugged the heater in got warmed up and dried out then had a spaghetti dinner .

Mon. Aug.,3 2015.

Slept in. What the heck it was lashing rain. Eventually got up had tea walked up to the Mission had a Tepid $2.50 shower then split a breakfast. Met tony and Ann wandering around invited them for happy hour at 1630. Returned to the boat tidied up read some.THE SUN CAME OUT!!!!! So we had happy hour in the cockpit! Wowzers.

Tues. Aug 4 2015.

We caught the 1010 train to Fort William (named after that famous English King William of Orange as opposed to that other King William of 1066 fame). A nice train ride in the rain but it stopped (both the train and the rain in the above fort) we got off and went walk about. A much bigger place then what we thought and we could see from the water! Bought a new fleece to replace the one I left some where in Norway. Had a coffee and sticky bun then caught the bus to Corpache so that tony could check out the Caledonia Canal as maybe a place to leave the boat for a month. We did all that then caught the train back to Mallaig had toast and eggs for dinner then be. Good night!

We. Aug 5 2015. No point getting up. Wind howling from the South Like really howling. Even the hounds and wolves couldn’t compete! We eventually wandered up town to the tourist shop for internet checked the weather and emails Heather might join us? Went to Sea Pilgrim for the second hand Chart and cruising guide sale. Purchased a couple of guides then up to the café for lunch and diesel. Had dinner of Baked Sausages and mashed on Sea Pilgrim.