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Sunday, 29 June 2014

Otter Ferry, Loch Fyne

Fantastic day today, hot and sunny. We're moored just off the Oystercatcher Pub, perfect! Pint of local Loch Fyne ale as the sun goes down.

Planning to enter the Crinan Canal tomorrow.
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Saturday, 28 June 2014

Back on the move again!

After a week in the South spending time with our families, we are back on the move. It was a bit of a false start on Thursday, I spent the morning installing a 'crane' (to make it easier to lower the outboard onto the dingy) but when we went to leave there was a problem. When I put the engine into gear there was a strange slapping noise in both forward and reverse. Hoping it was something simple (weed or rope on the propeller) someone had to go in and have a look - as I was the only one who had a wetsuit - in I went.  Katie knew what she was doing not getting a wetsuit...

Eventually I discovered that the propeller anode was loose, not something I could fix in the water so the only option was to lift Bathia. Luckily the marina boatyard were on hand and had a free lift slot. With the problem fixed we were finally on our way at 5pm.

We then had a gentle early evening sail around the Kyles of Bute and just made it to a mooring off the the Kames Hotel for 8:30 and last dinner orders.

Kyles of Bute

On Friday it was a fantastic sail from Kames to Tarbert in 15 knots (gusting 20 knots), unbeknown to us we arrived to the Tarbert Traditional Boat Festival and Loch Fyne Viking Festival.

Arrival of the Viking Longship (pulled from West to East Tarbert)


The pictures prove I went in (ignore my bald head), our mooring at Kames and Tarbert Harbour.

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Sunday, 15 June 2014

Isle of Bute

Following Cumbrae we spent a couple of nights at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Grand Victorian and Edwardian houses surround the town. We almost didn't take a bus trip around the island when we were the only passengers for the midday bus.  Luckily one other person arrived and the driver was OK to go with three!

We moored in the small outer harbour which was home to hundreds of Starfish, another interesting attraction were the restored Victorian toilets on the quay - but only for gentlemen, the ladies toilets are a modern add-on.  The showers were very welcome, if a little hot, after several days without!


The photo's show, the Victorian toilets, Rothesay Harbour, the view across Bute from the Rothesay golf course (Cumbrae is the Island in the left), Ardencraig gardens and us outside the Squat Lobster (great fish and chips).


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Thursday, 12 June 2014

Great Cumbrae

A sudden spell of good weather! We sailed from Lamlash (Arran) to Millport (Great Cumbrae) in the Firth of Clyde in glorious sunshine. We left our mooring buoy at 8:30 for the short sail to Millport and were safely on another buoy for lunch. Despite the numerous fishing boats en-route my line remained barren, I'll keep trying. I almost caught a Mackerel the other day but it made its escape before I could get it on board.

Millport is a pretty seaside town with an incredible number of park benches? It also has the smallest Cathedral in Great Britain.


Rainbow over Holy Island, off Arran

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Monday, 9 June 2014

Isle of Arran

Weather has been a bit 'iffy' so not much in the way of good photos.  We spent a couple of days in Loch Ryan at Stranraer and then the weekend in Troon.  On Sunday we took a long walk to Dundonald castle along the 6 mile 'smugglers trail', needless to say we took the bus back.  Today we crossed the Firth of Clyde over to Arran, dodging showers.  We are on a mooring bouy for the night and are just back from dinner ashore by dingy.

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Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Back on the move

First mate has had a cold so we have been laying low in Bangor for a few days.  Following Friday’s laundry day, on Saturday Rob took a walk inland in search of a tackle shop, after help from Google, for fishing components which might actually enable him to catch a fish for supper.

Saturday’s morning tea was disturbed by a series of marching bands parading down the high street and along the sea front. There were several groups of drummers and the noise kept increasing and they marched again in the afternoon disturbing Rob’s taxi ride back from the tackle shop – retuning with more supplies and an electric toaster – we've been missing proper toast. 

On Sunday, Rob took a short train ride to explore Belfast for a few hours.  Nice city, the titanic area is impressive, Rob picked up a few books; a book of British Birds to help us identity the local fowl, a sea fishing book and a travel guide to the Highland and Islands.

Belfast Customs House + Fish


Titanic Museum + Harland and Wolff Shipyard 

Monday, our final Bangor day, Rob serviced the on-board toilet (this does not mean using it, but replacing rubber washers and valves) – not a particularly fun task but hopefully this will keep it in tip-top condition for the rest of the trip.


Today we undertook the short crossing from Northern Ireland to Scotland, a mere 23 miles from Bangor to Portpatrick.  The weather forecast was not great before we left, but it’s been a great day, not much wind but clear blue sky.  We tied up to an empty harbour wall by 12:30 and had a great walk along the cliffs this afternoon.



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