Yachting, Mars, Curiosity and the role of dogs in the exploration of Space

It is important (to dogs) that the past and future roles of the Canine Species in the exploration of Mars (and Space in general) are never forgotten.

The first intelligent life form (I use the word "intelligent" loosely) to travel into Space was, of course, a dog.
A Russian cosmobitch called "Laika".
This specially-trained 3 year old stray,  hurtled into Space in Sputnik II on 3rd November 1957 and died very quickly.
Unfortunately, Sputnik II had the ability to go into orbit but lacked the ability to come out of it again.

Laika did however, had a special stamp published in her honour

Laika the Space Dog

Now, Dear Readers, you will be asking "what has this to do with Yachting in Scotland ?"

No idea, almost certainly nothing.  But for Bonzo, and dogs everywhere, it is of great significance in this exciting week when Curiosity landed on Mars.  

Why, some may ask did they send a complex, nuclear powered, six wheeled, titanium clad, semi-intelligent robot when they  could have sent a dog?    After all (and this is the key point of this posting)  if they'd sent a dog, there would have been life on Mars, albeit quite briefly.

Curiosity talking to a couple of Martians

Next week, back to Sailing in Troon and something on Haute Cuisine for Yotties.

Something about dogs and mobile devices.

We thought that Bonzo should have a smart phone (an oxymoron?).

After  considerable research we opted for the new 3G iBone from Canine Warehouse.

The iBone, of course, has a bite sensitive screen and comes in a variety of  canine fragrances.

We considered getting him the new iDog instead but  felt this was somewhat upmarket for a hound like our Bonzo.

Canine networking is vital for the modern dog.

The most popular are  “lick” and “sniff” but we opted for “woofer” for  Bonzo as he’s generally quite an aural canine.

We hope he’ll be happy to be so well connected. 

Oban to Crinan to Portavadie to Home

I think this leg legitimately constituted  "An Epic". 

The trip from Oban to The Crinan Canal  involves “passage planning”. 
For those that don’t really understand the intricacies of yotting (me, you (Dear Reader), Bonzo  etc.), “passage planning” can be a challenge. 
However, in essence, this is what it is about:
1.  The tide tends to flow the way you don’t want to go, and (in addition), 
2.  When the tide flows rapidly over an uneven rocky channel (all of Scotland) the sea may get very rough.

Oban to Crinan is basically like this. 
Anyway … having worked it out 3 times, we agreed that the best time to set off was 1255.
We set off at 1240. 
The route took us through the Sound of Luing, past (but not through) the infamous Gulf of Corryvreckan, through Dorus Mor and on down to  the sea lock at Crinan .. to start our “transit of the canal”.

Anyway (again), despite being fearsome, our trip to Crinan went swimmingly (I may regret using this adverb). Having carefully done as much of the difficult part of the route at slack waters and as near neaps as possible, we hit only 3 knots of tide in Dorus Mor.

Clouds over The Gulf of Corryveckan 

John and Ann met us at Crinan.

We were the last boat to get into Canal that night. 
We motored through a couple of locks and settled down for the night. 
It is important, Dear Reader, to remember to look out for bridges ahead when motoring along canals. Our boat (mast height 16.5 metres) will not easily fit under a closed road bridge (height 2 metres).

 

A nice stop on the Crinan Canal

Next day was sunny and hot  but then became windy.
The Crinan Canal was built about  200 years ago  so that ships could get from the Clyde to Oban without going around the Mull of Kintyre (thus avoiding endless renditions of  Paul McCartney’s little ditty****…which, of course, at the time, had not been written).  Unfortunately because Sir Paul was not born 200 years ago *, the canal served little use until recent years when yotties re-discovered it.

Anyway … Wednesday 15^th August 2012
We locked our way, first up and then  down the Crinan Canal from Crinan to Ardrisaig.

John and Ann were wonderful, opening and closing gates, catching ropes and providing cake.

Jean helps John close a lock.

Locking with another boat

We teamed up with another boat which accompanied us through most of the  locks.  This was good thing because they knew what they were doing.
Towards the end of the day the wind got a bit nasty (F6) and this made locking quite a challenge **.

Wednesday night was too windy for further progress so we rafted up to “Adela” ably assisted by her charming, helpful and altogether very nice skipper ***

We said “Goodbye” to John and Ann and settled down to worrying about the weather.

Thursday 16^th August.
After a prolonged period of dithering and worrying about the weather, we eventually decided “to go for it” and left the canal at about 1300 hours in F5 and motored to Portavadie Marina.

Portavadie Marina has hair straighteners in the men’s showers.
For a man with as much hair as I have, this is obviously of crucial importance.

Portavadie Marina

As I understand it, Portavadie Marina  was constructed in a basin excavated 20 or 30 years ago to create a harbour for the maintenance of oil rigs.  
Portavadie is on the West Coast of Scotland. 
The oil was on the East Coast. 
They didn’t get a lot (any?) business. 
The oil rig harbour was therefore converted into a Marina (with hair straighteners in the loos, obviously).

Friday 17^th August.
We went home.
Portavadie to Glasgow Airport isn’t difficult  (2 buses, one ferry, one train, a shuttle bus … and you’re there!)

The house felt strangely empty without Bonzo.
I hadn’t realised that dogs could be held on remand and then bailed, but perhaps our modest contribution to the Retired Dog Warden Benevolent Fund helped a little. Anyway, our tame psychopathic canine is home again, at least for now.



* Note to Author  ..  I need to check this
** Yottie term meaning “very difficult”
*** name withheld for security reasons
**** "Mull of Kintyre"

Portree to Ornsay to Tobermory (again) to Loch Aline to Oban.

Hello again Linda.

The plot so far. 

In essence, three intrepid sailors are boating somewhere in Scotland.

Thursday 9^th August 2012

We left Portree and headed under the bridge to Skye planning to stop at Kyle of Lochalsh (mainly I think because the latter sounds very Scottish).  K of L was however, in our view, pretty horrible, so we went on to anchor on the Isle of Ornsay (which was nice).

Martin introduced us to McEwan’s  80 Shilling  (beer). 

This was (in every respect) a good thing.

We explored the island  (walked up to the hotel).

The hotel offered shooting, fishing and deer stalking and had a restaurant.

We had an excellent meal on board and a peaceful night at anchor.

Friday & Saturday 10^th  - 11^th  August

Back down to Tobermory.

Fuel, water, electricity, food and very nice walk in the hot Scottish sunshine.

A meal at the pub.

Sunday 12^th August

We went sailing!

We set off for Lismore Island but ended up in Loch Aline.

It was a nice day (when we set off).

The wind was on our nose and went F4 .. 5 .. 6 .. 7.  The tide was adverse (obviously).

Our course tacking down the Sound of Mull

There are lots of boats around here (possibly as crowded as the Solent at 3 a.m on a weekday in early February when BBC 1 has the FA Cup Final on and ITV4 a slightly pornographic movie).

Anyway ... there were enough boats around for a little race and (it being the Olympics at the time), we took Silver.

8 miles of proper sailing was enough, which is why we ended up in Loch Aline.

Loch Aline.  Another beautiful, sheltered Scottish loch.

Monday 13^th August

Off to Oban.  Raining today. Motored.

Oban Marina. Nice.

Unfortunately we have to say Goodbye to Martin tomorrow morning.

Martin tying a Turk’s Head to the wheel (I was surprised that this is still allowed).

Loch Moidart to Arisaig to Rum to Loch Scaraig to Loch Harport to Dunvegan to Rona to Portree to Isle Ornsay

Possibly rather a long title?

Hello again Dear Reader(s), have you missed me?

Anyway  .. we are in Scotland  … roughly …

Loch Moidart

Initially windy and wet, later windy and wet.

On our second day we had a really good walk  … along the coast over the mountain, around the lake, down to the sea and back to the boat  … wonderful!

We slept well.

2^nd August 2012

Off to Arisaig.

Quite challenging to get into.

If you follow the obvious transit on the hill, you feel very reassured until you realise that the transit actually consists of two Vodafone aerials on a post halfway up the mountain.  These are, of course, always in line from all directions.

We were allocated a mooring and went ashore to the launderette.

Arisaig is nice  (BSA>>12.7).

The tourist centre is excellent.

The Spar Shop sells everything.

We are happy.

3^rd August

We greet Martin at the station and flubber him aboard.

Off to Rum. (aka Rhum).

(Martin: “Crowded, there was another boat in the bay”)

Night in Rum. 

4^th  August

Ashore in the morning.

Today is the official “Rum Midge Fest”  .. ruined by a lack of Midges.

We walked up to the castle and watched a couple of horses having it off in the field. Apparently Edward VIII enjoyed himself here as well.

Next stop Loch Scalaig for lunch

The Most Beautiful Anchorage in Europe.

Scalaig

Off to Loch Harport for the night  (home caught mackerel and chicken stew).

Anchored outside the Talisker distillery.

5^th August

Epic beat to Dunvegan (full of carnivores).

Dinner aboard.

6^th August

Walk to castle

Walk to MacLeod’s finger (erected 2000, vandalised 2001)

MacLeod’s finger

Walk to shop  .. Martin walked to the bakery.

Nice meal (F & C) at Dunvegan Hotel. Pleasant English landlady.

7^th August

Epic trip to Rona  (not a real Epic, but Martin dictated this bit).

Rona  .. deserted but for 7 boat in the anchorage.

No road vehicles except 2 quad bikes and a JCB.

Nice walk to the cave chapel where Martin found a fossilised Ichthyosaur (rabbit bones).

Night at anchor.

8^th August

Awesome spinnaker beat to Portree

spinnaker

Decided to sell spinnaker when we get home (if we ever do).

Arrived Portree

Highland Games Week in Portree. 

Lots of Highland Games going on.

Ate out for lunch then had circular walk (obviously).

Delicious supper aboard.

9^th August

Off to Kyle of Lochalsh. Decided not to stop as K o L was a bit of a dump.

We witnessed a dramatic rescue ... reader(s) of nervous disposition should look away now .. anyway,  let me take you to the scene ..

“Stornoway Coastguard, Stornoway Coastguard, Stornoway Coastguard, this is Yacht Mule, Yacht Mule, Yacht Mule, we are becalmed, on flat water, in no danger whatsoever and the engine is b*gg*red, help! Over”

The rest of this story is probably too frightening for my reader(s) but rest assured Dear Reader(s) no animals were harmed in the reconstruction of this event.

But  .. we saw a huge pod of dolphins  whilst listening to unfolding events.

Dolphin jumping

Under the Bridge of Skye (complete absence of bunnies).

Next stop Ornsay (from where I write).

Tobermory to Muck to Loch Cean Traigh to Loch Moidart

It’s pouring and windy.

The anchor bridle creaks and the wheel spins in the gusts.

We are sheltering in Loch Moidart.

We had two nights in Tobermory and a lovely walk along the cliffs to a waterfall

A waterfall near Tobermory.

Tobermory

We went out to dinner at the bar by the marina for our wedding anniversary (35) extravaganza.

30^th July

Off to the Isle of Muck. Population about 24 plus us plus a boat load of twitchers.

Muck had a grand modern harbour (thanks to the EU)

Muck’s harbour.

We walked up the main road… over the island to the beach

Muck’s  beach with Rum’s mountains behind.

It was all very lovely, but with bad weather on the way we had to find a better anchorage.

Off to Loch Cean Traigh.

Loch Cean Traigh

31^st July

After a quiet night and a walk along the beach and through some bracken we set off for Loch Moidart

Jean in the bracken

We arrived outside Loch Moidart at HW plus 0200 (because I was anxious not to wreck the boat in the loch).

Interesting trip up the loch to shelter behind Riska Island  (not brilliant shelter with the wind coming towards us, and us in front of the island).

We flubbered ashore and walked around the ruins of Castle Tioram. 

Built in the 14^th Century.  Burnt down by the MacDonalds (who owned it) to prevent the Campbells  from getting it (or possibly the other way round) about 250 years ago.

Silly lot.

Castle Tioram from the boat.

Egg and bacon for supper (good).

A bad night (not good .. obviously)

The weather outside is horrible, but then it is August.