Day one and two of the Caledonian Canal - the adventure continues

The Lunatic crew for the Caledonian Canal
 

We entered the  Clachnaharry sea lock at Inverness for the 1.30 lock and were met by a very helpful, calm lock keeper who talked us through. There was a large sign saying Ireland this way!

Clachnaharry Sea Lock, the entrance to the Caledonian Canal, The Great Glen, Loch Ness and Ireland!

The lock was timed so that you could then sail through the railway swing bridge, then on to the Muirhead flight of four locks.

We had relaxed once we got on to the canal, thinking things could only get better and there is much less to worry about in a canal as opposed to being out at sea, no tides to think about for example. How wrong we were, we were forgetting this is the Lunacy cruise.

At the second lock Mick fell in! We heard a plop and a splash and Mick had fallen into the lock between the lock wall and the boat. Josh's quick thinking saved the day as he put the long swim ladder over the edge and Mick managed to climb up before he got squashed between the wall and the boat. The lock master didn't really know what to do as he said in all the time he worked there no one had ever fallen in! We were lucky as it could have had a very different outcome. We were all wearing lifejackets and will do for all of the locks, they can be dangerous places.

Mick dripping wet after his "swim" in the lock!

The following day (17th June) we left the mooring for the 11.00 Dochgarroch Locking and then into Loch Ness itself. The lock keeper said hello and he had one word of warning, he didn't want anyone going for a swim in his lock. Our reputation had preceded us!

The weather was not very nice with 20 knots of wind but SSW so at least a bit warmer. However, when we got into Loch Ness it was very rough and unpleasant. The wind was much stronger here at 20/25 knots and it was gusting up to 34 knots, just on a force 8. Only we could have force 7 to 8 gale force winds in Loch Ness! As usual I wimped out and wanted to turn back, but the consensus was to carry on. We battled waves and wind on the nose again for a very unpleasant three hours until we saw Castle Urquhart through the mist and we were able to turn into the bay to get shelter. We moored up to a buoy and decided to make a meal as we planned to be there for some time until the weather settled down. At least the sun had come out and the rain had stopped so we all had a well earned rest.

At just after 5.30pm we decided that the weather had calmed down enough for us to move on and we had to get going as it was a good 3 hours or more before we could moor up again at the next stop which was Fort Augustus.

The second leg of Loch Ness.

The journey was not pleasant, although the wind had eased to about 15 knots the loch was still choppy and there was thick mist and drizzle. We had the radar on but no sign of Nessie. We arrived Fort Agustus at just gone 9pm and luckily there was a space on the pontoon right by the showers, but no electric. We were all happy to be safely moored up and decided to check out the local pub, which turned out to be the Bothy, a lovely old pub by the lock which was very lively. At 11.00 they locked the doors so I have now experienced a pub lock in for the first time!

The Bothy Pub.