Kilmelford to Ardfern

Oh boy, was it dreich on Monday. Couldn't see the hills around the loch, could just hear the nice sound of the rain gurgling down the deck drains - kind of comforting though, like the noise the dry exhaust makes when we are underway. Probably the kind of background noise that would help children sleep. Perhaps we could record it and make some money from the wealthy yummy mummy brigade. Anne - how much would you have paid for a digital sleeping draught for your kids? (I deliberately haven't asked Claire as she is a financial controller and we all know how careful with cash they are).

After a day hunkered down, the wind finally dropped and we decided to start the trek south again. Between Loch Melfort and "the south" is a tidal gate at the Dorus Mor, near the entrance to Loch Craignish. For the non boaters, a tidal gate means an area where you have to pass at specific tide states otherwise it can be very bumpy and/or you you have a big stream against you. As it is spring tides this week, proper timing is even more important as everything is amplified. So, we headed off just after lunchtime for a 15:30 arrival in the narrows, when the tide is as "slack" as possible. It was strange saying bye to the Kilmelford team who had been so helpful after our 2 rather lengthy stays there. A stopping off point for next summer!

After days of grot, the sun was kind to us and the trip was lovely albeit still blowy. View down the sound of Jura:

We arrived at the Dorus Mor at more or less the right time. A few whirlpools were visible but because of the timing, it was calm despite the brisk wind and spring tides:

Feeling brave this time, here is a picture of Princess Anne's yacht on the mooring just outside Ardfern Yacht Centre. We feel brave as the USA monitoring services are probably very busy with Syria and will not be alerting MI5 to security breaches in the UK right now. If we are wrong, please start a "Free the Nordhavn two" campaign asap:

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As you can see, not that opulent. If she pops down tomorrow, we might offer her the use of our rather nice shower.

The evening view down the Loch was lovely, as was the rather large Indian meal we managed to consume sitting in the pilothouse and watching the world do nothing in particular. Oh yes.....

Revised cruising plans and a crew update

Well, we now have to head south again, to find a suitable spot (or spots) to overwinter. Although we could hang around in Scotland a little longer before the weather gets too cold and blowy to make it fun (looking outside right now, maybe it is already?) we have some time pressure.

Time pressure and retired people we hear you ask, how can that be? Well, after the Captain's mum passed away, we put the bungalow in Norfolk on the market and we've just received a sensible offer for it. This means getting closer to Caister-on-sea but not a lot bar the North Sea and the delights of Great Yarmouth are close of course. Lowestoft marina is in a horrid industrial wasteland so we will not head there either. We need to be able to drive to and fro to empty out the bungalow and garage. Anyone want a 12 foot, varnished, clinker built, mahogany on oak balanced lugsail dinghy?? Or an Austin J40 pedal car?

Yes, a pedal car sounds a bit cheap, tinny and weird.

Have a look at  http://www.austinmemories.com/page66/page66.html or  http://www.austinj40pedalcarclub.org.uk/aboutj40.html though before you judge.

Now you know about their strange history, you can judge and yes, it is a little weird but not at all tinny. The car was given to the Captain when he was about 4, all tidied up by the local Austin dealer's bodyshop after sitting in their showroom for many years and being regularly lusted over by the very young Captain (see, he was a total petrolhead from an early age). Even weirder is how much they now fetch on eBay! Have a look.

Crew update:

There were no signs of misbehaviour during our absence. Patrick and Moss were still "close" but not worryingly so. Colin (the "no publicity" name for the 747 captain) was a bit worried that Patrick had  a Hawaiian skirt. No Colin, the boat had grown a grass skirt. Can you imagine a self respecting penguin sporting a grass skirt? Or even the slightly errant Patrick?

Talking of Patrick, when we returned he was perched in the helm seat, clutching a belated birthday card for the Captain. Suitably penguin orientated of course:

All we have to do now is figure out where he has hidden the lawnmower as we fear the worst based on his past performances.

Phil, the Northern Irish Nordhavn man, is planning a trip up to this area during the week with his colleague Neil to inspect the flotilla we reported on earlier. So, we might just hang around nearby to make them lots of hot coffee and bacon rolls. Actually no, it should be healthy stuff as they have the Southampton boat show coming up where manning the stand means that their diet will consist of bacon rolls and burgers. Anyone feeling jealous?