Not quite over.

It seems that my exciting journey wasn't going to end with a boring bus ride home.
Just after rejoining the motorway at Birmingham, about 04:30, the Megabus coach I was on suffered a blow out on one of the rear tyres. Lots of flapping & banging noises as we came to a quick halt on the hard shoulder, followed by the pungent acrid smell of burning rubber.
Megabus quickly got another coach, and after transferring us and the luggage on the hard shoulder we were on our way. I did arrive at Victoria an hour late, but as the Maidstone coach doesn't leave for another three hours, it wasn't a problem.

End of this years adventure!

It has been a strange couple of days, dominated by the Scottish weather. Once Peter and I established that even if we could see a weather window which could enable a trip to Tobermory, there was no sign of a break that would enable a passage back to Oban. The marina could lift us out this week, but next week the hoist was booked for maintenance.
So we made the decision to lift out yesterday, and after that there was no point in staying any longer.
Calviere II is now ashore, water drained from the tanks, sails stowed below, engine winterised.
Peter caught the 12:50 train to Glasgow. Whilst in Oban, we did see Nicholas Crane, filming for an episode of Coast, I think they must be following my blog.
I'm sitting at the bus stop waiting for my first bus of my overnight trip home.
Many thanks to Peter H for his company on the two passages. Both trips being altered by the weather. But we did make some memorable journies, such as through The Crinan Canal, and that bash through the waves into Plymouth.
I will start planing next years return to the south.

Blustery Tuesday - Guest Blogger

Somewhat unexpectedly, I find myself writing the last guest blog of 2012, if not the last blog of any sort.
Our plans to go to Tobermory have been blown out (!) by the dreadful weather and the discovery that the marina can't lift the boat out next week as they will be maintaining the hoist. So we spent most of this morning removing the sails and other bits in readiness for the lift.
It's a shame to be leaving early, but there's no sign of any better weather - either dry or reasonable wind speeds - until well into next week. Still, I've had an enjoyable eight days on board Calviere Two and some good fun with Peter.
Let's hope the weather's better next year!

Rest Day in Oban

We decided that we could spare a day and take a closer look at Oban. In the morning we caught the marina ferry Shuttle across to the town. First we explored the 'War and Peace Museum' on the promenade which proved to be quite interesting, dealing with Oban's involvement in the second world war as a base for flying boats and the development of the town by  the ferries and railway.
We climbed to the top of Oban to the McCaig's Tower which does give access to spectacular views.

From the tower we could see The Oban Distillery, so we decided this needed a visit. Fortunately the tour does include a sample.

We returned to the Island of Kerrera, and took a long walk in the afternoon, getting muddy shoes in the bogs, and wet from the rain. But was still enjoyable.

Chrissy, Julie and Dorril had been to London to visit Buckingham Palace. Chrissy did see a number of tiaras which she liked. I may need to start saving up for her favourite, the Russian Fringe Tiara for Christmas. Today was also the parade of the Olympians in the open topped buses.

Dorril did get a picture of Ed Clancy, Gold Medal Winner, and some of the cycling team getting into a taxi.

Ardfern to Oban

We left Ardfern at 10:00 and made our way back down the loch. As the wind was quite strong and gusty we had two reefs in the main, and just a small amount of genoa. The wind was blowing up the loch so we motored for the first few miles, but once we turned north we were able to sail. The wind settled down so we able to shake out one reef and had the full genoa. We were sailing along strongly, pity about the rain.
We weaved our course between the islands, past the Gulf of Corryveckan, through the Firth of Lorn, up the Sound of Kerrera to Oban Marina.
In the evening we went across to the town in the marina ferry shuttle for an Indian meal, followed by a glass of Oban single malt.

Saturday. Crinan - Ardfern

We waited for a couple of incoming yachts to clear the sea lock before departing, through the mist. It was a bit of a damp start, but after a while the cloud lifted and at times we even saw small patches of blue sky.
There was very little wind and the sea was dead calm. We motored, weaving our way past the small islands and inlets to Ardfern.
We stopped at the fuel pontoon and took on 26 ltrs of diesel. As this is the first time I have refueled since Holy Loch, I didn't think we had done too badly. We did motor the length of the Crinan Canal barely above tick over.
The boat had collected lots of muddy footprints, grass cuttings & leaves on the decks in the canal, so I gave her a wash down whilst Peter visited the laundry.
In the evening we ate in The Galley of Lorne, the meal being followed by a single malt from Campbeltown.

Cairnbaan - Crinan

After a bacon sandwich, Peter and I set out in the light rain to find the Iron Age marked stones at Achnabreck. Despite some navigational setbacks we did find them.
We set off from Cairnbaan, up to the highest point that I'm ever likely to take Calviere II. Peter H at the helm and me in the rain walking between the locks to take the mooring lines and operate the locks, although all the locks and bridges did have a keeper.
Once over the top, I took over the helm for the descent.
We stopped for a chat with most of the lock keepers. I did feel that the bridge keepers were missing out on meeting the canal users. All they got was a blast on the horn as we approached and a cheery wave as we past by.
On arrival at Crinan, we moored above the Crinan Basin, and went off to explore the village. This was completed in about 15 minutes, so we did it again!
We carried out some running repairs, rewhipping some lines and refitting the head of the boat hook.
Dinner was enjoyed in the Seafood.Bar of the Crinan Hotel, which was helped down by the local single malt.

Peter H Guest Blog. Cairnbaan on the Crinan Canal

It's all very well, esteemed readers, for you to be languishing in the sunshine in shorts and tee-shirts, enjoying or at least contemplating the last BBQ of 2012. Up here in bonny Scotland we're wearing five layers of clothing and waterproofs because we've got real weather. Proper, dramatic weather appropriate to the dramatic scenery. And very nice it is, too. From the Titan cranes at Greenock to the 200-year old Crinan canal. It did let up briefly while we were in Rothesay, so we had a look round the town. Rothesay's armoured bars rather took my eye. No pubs here, just bars, and lots of them, with heavy steel doors and unlikely notices such as "no football colours" and "for your safety, wipe your feet on the doormat". We couldn't summon the courage to go in one for fear of what might happen if we were judged to have wiped our feet incorrectly. . .

Rothesay - Ardrishaig

We left at low water, trying to catch slack water at The Butes, which is the very narrow strait between the mainland and the north of the Isle of Bute. We nipped through just ahead of the ferry.
We had a mixture of all weathers on the journey. We has sunshine & showers, no wind, and winds so strong we put in two reefs.
We passed through the Kyles of Bute into Loch Fyne and then north to Ardrishag. We were able to motor straight into the sea lock of the Crinan canal and moor for the night in the Ardrishaig Basin.
After exploring Ardrishaig we ate in The Argyll Hotel. After leaving we heard bagpipes and went to investigate.

Tuesday 4 th September, Greenock to Rothesay

After the tiring day yesterday, we didn't have a need for an early start. We awoke to a fairly bright day, but the wind was blowing through the rigging above the dock.
The marina weather forecast posted outside the shower block was dire, F9 westerly, with sea state rough. We considered staying put for the day, but sought out advice from the marina staff. They were of the opinion that The Clyde would be sheltered, and we could make for Rothesay, with a number of ports of refuge if things did get too much.
We set off, with the tide and the wind we barely made two knots. Once round the corner we were able to unfurl a small amount of the genoa, which took us up to five knots. The highest gust we saw was 37knots.
Unfortunately, the wind followed us round, so we didn't sail for very long. The sea was flat, with small white crests which were being blown away.
We motored all the way, and moored in the inner harbour at Rothesay.
Chinese take out for dinner on board, with a bottle of NZ white.

The Adventure Continues- Monday 3rd September

Chrissy and I enjoyed our Baltic Cruise out of Harwich to St Petersburg on the Thomson Spirit.
We did return to some bad news. A good friend, fellow member of Queenborough Yacht club and the Harbour Trust, David Holden, died. David had been suffering with leukemia for the past year and had returned to Medway Hospital whilst we were away. In the past, David had sailed around Britain twice, and had taken Skeetwell to the Baltic, so I had been looking forward to comparing notes and showing him my photos. He will be missed by Queenborough, and the much larger sailing community.
This morning, Chrissy put me on the 08:05 coach out of Maidstone and shortly after 21:00, I met Peter H in the pub in Greenock. Peter had sorted out the boat keys from the marina and restocked the larder, so we are ready to continue the adventure!