We were very happy in Campbeltown so we stayed for two nights.
We walked
across the causeway to Davaar Island and looked at the cave paintings;
Jean liked the cave paintings.
We went
swimming at the lovely leisure centre; we visited The Linda McCartney Memorial Garden, and we met a Mr Alex Salmond.
We met
Mr Salmond at the Royal Hotel where he had been staying the previous
night.
He greeted us like old
friends.
I
thought “I think that’s Mr Salmond”.
We
had supper at The Ardshiel Hotel. It was very good.
29th August 2013
We sailed to Lochranza on The Isle of Arran. We picked up a mooring and went ashore. There is a castle and the people are very friendly.
There was no sign of either King Harkon or Mr Salmond.
30th August 2013
To
Port Bannatyne
The
marina is in Kames Bay, a couple of miles from Rothesay.
I suspect that my interpretation
of some parts of The International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 differs slightly from that of the Rothesay Ferry, but we
arrived safely anyway.
We liked Port Bannatyne
Marina and we stayed two nights.
We caught a bus to visit Rothesay and see its
sights.
Rothesay used to be the premier
holiday destination for Glaswegians.
We visited Mount Stuart.
This neo-gothic house was put up by a Victorian
chap whose forebears had made a lot of money using a mixture of tricks that
included marrying rich people and owning
a lot of mines in South Wales.
One of these forebears had even been British Prime Minister, albeit briefly.
Anyway, having
a monstrous pile of dosh, his lordship built a pretty (in my view) monstrous
house using absurd quantities of marble.
I’m sure he liked it.
After a very interesting tour I became a
socialist, albeit briefly.
Next (on the basis of an exceptional recommendation by PB) we
visited the Victorian Public Lavatories of Rothesay.
These are truly exceptional.
Rothesay
also has a fine castle.
1st
September 2013
To
Troon.
The
forecast was W or SW F 5-7.
This caused
us some anxiety especially as the current version of the Clyde Cruising Club Guide
advises against entering Troon in strong westerly winds.
After prolonged dithering I eventually
advised my beloved, using my most decisive tone, that I had decided that it was
unwise to go. Accepting this, she did
just suggest that it might be worth phoning Troon to check how bad it really
was. Troon subsequently reassured us
that the information in the CCC Guide was out of date and the entrance would be
fine.
I therefore decisively reversed my
former decision and opted to set off … definitely.
We did, and we got there.
A pleasant sail gusting 30 knots but always
downwind.
Troon entrance was a breeze.
We’d
made it.
Another
season’s sailing completed.
A
circumnavigation of the Northern Isles and (most of) Scotland.
1227
miles logged.
Crinan
and Caledonian canals transited.
Excellent
sailing and wonderful times together and with friends
.
Roll
on next year.
