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.
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