Wednesday 9 June Crinan to Craobh

A gentle pootle around today taking in the sceaney and ending up in Graobh ( Croove) Marina. A quite marina formed by knocking down a hill and using the rock to join 3 islands together to form the breakwaters. The marina was fillled by large yachts and the car park with expensive cars. Ashore the flat area created was built on to form a street of houses that are mostly holiday lets or second homes so not much going on.
An eening walk along the islands gave us a sighting of a seal and a sea otter , which disappeared when I got the camera out.

The best picture of an Oter so far :)

Monday 7 June Jura to Crinan

After a peaceful nights sleep it was up early to be at the distillery to book the 9:00 tour. Then the fog descended with less then 100m visibility at times , we actually took a compass ashore to find our way back. We were in the door as soon as it opened to ask for the tour, only to be told today is fully booked so it was 2 fingers up to Jura distillery and we will take our trade else where. There was not anything else to do on the island so we tested the radar and headed off in the fog for Crinan. After a couple of hours we left the fog and the sun came out leaving us with a gentle motor round before picking up a buoy near the canal gates. G & T on deck in shorts what a rarity.

On Tuesday we booked a couple of bikes and cycled the 9 miles to the astern end of the canal watching the yachts transiting the locks. The rain held off until that evening and then the heavens opened.

Sunday 6 June Islay to Jura

Today just a short hop between islands.
We picked up a visitor buoy just off the distillery all ready for the Monday morning taisting.
We wind picked up during the afternoon comming down in savage vertical gusts of 30+ kns, so it was stay on board. At 23:00 itwas almost a if a switch had been turned , within minutes the wind had dropped and it was mirror calm , but too late for a trip ashore.

Saturday 5 June Port Ellen

Sun today !! even though the forecast is for showers.
A leisurly stroll off towards Ardbeg distillery since the others are not open today.On approaching Lagavulin distillery after 2 miles a lotorist stopped and asked if we were heading for Ardbeg as they had had a flood and the place was closed so we ventured on to Dunyvaig Castle (ruins ) the home of the Macdonalds

Friday 4 June Campbeltown to Port Ellen (Islay)

The alarm went off at 5:30 for the 6:10 start with 20kns of wind whistling through the rigging , but the forecast was for it to drop with fog patches and showers. So it was once again wrap up and get ready to be wet and cold. An hour out the wind dropped and we had to motor to the Mull of Kintyre, before we had a steady F4 behind us and the sun came out but still cool in the wind. As we approached the entrance to Port Ellen ( a narrow rocky channel) a cruise ship at anchor decided to get under way , deciding not to insist on our right we hove to to let him out of the bay.
The Marina in the port is a charity run be the locals to encourage visitng yachts but the showers are at a local B&B costing £3.
The island has 6 distillery's and4 are within 3 miles from the town so tomorrow its a walk or bike hire for some tastings. I guess the trip back will be interesting.

Thursday 3 June off round the Mull of Kintyre

Hurrah at last we have sun. The plan , but we dont often follow plans is Campbeltown today and round the Mull tomorrow stopping at Port Ellen and seeing Islay.

Well we arrived ok in Campbeltown , a plan worked . At the entrance to Campbeltown we saw many porpoises and stopped to take photos as they swam under the boat but as usual they did not want their photos taken ,and arrived in time to visit a butcher we used last time . The fridge is now full of steak and haggis . The weather was a little misty with no wind so we motored over which allowed the fridge to make ice, so I am now sitting here on deck in my shorts drinking iced G & T thinking of the peppered steak we are having for supper. Tomorrow off round the Mull with a 6:00 start .
See if you can spot the porpoise



Its to the left underwater

Thursday 27 May to Wednesday 2 June

A short hop down the coast in yet more old weather . The boat was left at Troon for a week While we returned home for a week. Me to attend a dinghy meeting at Southwold, (10th out of 28 not bad for how unfit I am) and for Peter to be there for his wedding anniversary.
We are all refueled food stores re filled and ready for stage 2. I hope the weather will be better from now on.