Now the journey continues south to the Inner Hebrides and then back to Caledonia canal.
Here the ferries in their buoys.
Magnificently.
Sunrise.
It is so nice so it hurts the eyes.
I’m approaching the canal early morning.
14 meter bridge in Ballachulish
Here (straight ahead before the trees) I rowed the dinghy a few hours ago.
In the evening I hear Anything off the boat, there is an Englishman and his wife who want to outbid me on a dram in his boat, of course, I thank yes, and we had a very nice evening.
Now is the sky blue again.
The lagoon inside the bridge at Ballachulish.
Slack water an hour and the bridge is 14 meters, the boat 10.5 so it should work out well
Cool height differences.
Towards the canal, Richard my son will get there in three days to Fort William.
Heading north again.
The pub next to the ferry.
Not easy to steer straight with Snider propeller.
Looks like at home in the engine room.
Met with the crew yesterday at the pub and the master invited me to the ferry, then I try to run.
The ferry.
The ferry to the Isle of Mull, which is on the other side of the strait.
The Inn at Loch Aline
The food was delicious.
Now I have come to Loch Aline, a bit north.
Easdale ferry
Easdale.
Easdale.
The pub on the land side.
Waiting room on both sides.
Without zoom.
View from the top of the island.
Abandoned quarries are up to 80 meters deep.
Here they have taken the shale rocks to the roof cladding in several hundred years.
Cool old piers.
You need to go to Puffer pub to pay, I do gladly.
Azur moored in a buoy at Easdale.
There I saw the smallest ferry I’ve seen, fully equipped with two-man crew.
The pub.
Took the dinghy to the island and visited the pub.
Luckily a buoy was vacant.
Easdale is a wonderful place.
Many ferries.
Keeps well beyond Corryvreckan so I do not end up in the strong current. (Strait on the starboard side).
Now it was more wind.
A little bit further, then north.
Good come out strait before the water enters.
One can see the mountain how high tide reaches.
The weather deteriorates.
Magnificently.
Magnificently.
Wonderful scenery.
The next day, out of the West Loch Tarbert again to then sail north.
The inlet to the lake.
Anchored alone on Britain’s most desolate place. No phone, radio, TV or VHF, nothing worked.
You have to have an eye on the levels and tidal currents.
A bit into the bay you come to a narrow sound and then a small lake inside, there will be about 5,000 wild deer.
West Loch Tarbert is regarded by many as Britain’s most desolate place.
Northern tip of Islay.
Here it was standing waves despite no swell. Unfortunately, no photo from there, I was busy. It was 3-4 meters waves from all directions in 10 Nm.
Turns north, west of Islay due weather report, there will be severe weather around the Irish coast.
Heading south towards Ireland.
Lagavulin Bay.
Whisky Test No 2 today.
No trees anywhere.
View from the Lagavulin factory.
Moored in the Lagavulin factory area.
This is not a good place to navigate wrong.
In here is Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg.
Nice views.
Satisfied, for now, the goal is near, my favourite whiskey.
Good weather but no sailing in the morning.
Heading south early in the morning.
Feeding swans is fun.
Enjoying for a while.
Tour of the distillery.
If I had driven into the bridge at high tide, I would be stuck there for a few hours.
Then it was time for a whisky tour / tasting.
I like to see my boat under palm trees.
A sheltered bay on the Jura with a distillery.
SE end of the Jura.
Now it is not far to the anchorage.
Wind Protected?
Slack water, for an hour approximately.
Not many neighbours there on the island.
A volcano!
Corryvreckan is the sound that I do not want to go through, I stick to the inside with the tide coming in.
Sound of Luing, here it goes fast, it swirls in the water and the pilot can not keep up so it is manual control that apply.
Good her is co-current now.
Cool rock formations.
Warm and comfortable.
So far, I have the tide with me.
it’s probably old volcanoes.
I just enjoy.
Wonderfully.
Now I bought a dinghy and go south.
The harbour of Oban.
Oban
Evening in Oban.
Nice city with many seagulls.
And ferries.
Almost only wooden boats.
Colorful boats.
Nice boats, fishing is still an important industry here.
Here they have the visitor centre with tour and whiskey tasting, of course I did not miss it.
Other sailors told me, better get a dinghy, there is nothing else than buoys to moor in the south. So back north to Oban.
Anchored 5 Nm south of Oban.
Heading south towards Oban.
A few hours later, 3,5 meters more water.
Low water.
Time to take a night in the marina.
No problems with dry docking if needed.
It is important to check the clock and tide.
Now it’s fast, about 5 knots co-current.
Sheep’s everywhere.
Stunning surroundings.
Good momentum with the help of the tide.
Corran lighthouse
Corran Ferry
Now I leave Caledonia Canal and set course south.