Inverness by bus then Dochgarroch to Fort Augustus

There were not hundreds of buses to choose from. The captain and Andrew recovered the RIB and then got the “7 minute warning”. The crew gaily informed us that the first bus left in 7 minutes. Of course it was on time and we were not. So, a short 40 minute wait for the “other bus” which was running nice and late followed. Yes, Inverness was still proving suitably tricky. Perhaps the hills are defeating the superannuated buses still in service like ours:

The good news follows – no bus crash or closed roads en route. We had a great day there, managing to buy a couple of extra folding chairs that John (the knees) and Tina can use at the Belfast BBC Prom in the Park when they visit in September too.

Quite an anti-climax really wasn’t it after all that build up?

On Saturday we planned a serious day heading back towards Corpach. Well, we planned one. We were ready for the 8am start at Dochgarroch but the man with the limp didn’t seem to want to start that early or use his radio. By half past we gave up and just headed down towards the lock and he finally opened it. Another glorious run across Loch Ness on the flybridge followed and then it got a bit stickier. We reached Fort Augustus around 12 just as one lock full was called in to head upwards. No space for us and we were told it would be a 3pm start for the next ascent. OK, lunch and a little shopping were completed. That somehow became 3:45pm though and naturally the lovely sunny weather had broken and the more typical rain started. Ideal for a flight of 5 locks. The crew looked good in their waterproofs though during a break in the rain:

The most surly of all the lock keepers really wanted to get our set of boats through asap and kept on opening the sluices pretty wide and so we enjoyed (?) lots of turbulence and fender squashing as we ascended. Unnecessary of course and the guy who took over for the last couple of locks was way more gentle and friendly. It seems that Dochgarraoch is the rest home for shortly to retire keepers and Fort Augustus flight is where they have the least "customer aware" folks who try to maximise their lunch break too. Funny as the people on the rest of the canal are brilliant.

As it was so late, we had no chance of passing through the next lock and so we moored just above the flight. One fringe benefit - we revisited the steak pie place for dinner. Every cloud has its calorie laden lining in this world it seems.