Phase 2 starts. Inverkip to Ardrishaig

We have had a good, and busy week at home. The house was in good shape and not too much post to sort, thanks to Richard and our good friends and neighbours, Dave and Julia. The Solitaire du Figaro single handed race series arriving in Torquay on Wednesday and leaving on Sunday provided plenty of interest and Debbie managed a trip to London on Friday/Saturday for an FLP success day.
The trip back to Inverkip on Monday was uneventful, the trains arriving on time, and we were met at Inverkip station by our daughter Robyn who had also stocked us up with fresh food on her way across from Aberdeen.
The forecast for Tuesday was variable 3 or less and so it proved. We left Inverkip mid morning with a 12 knot Southerly breeze and bright sunshine. Robyn was tempted into shorts, the parents were more cautious! This lasted until we entered the East Kyle when it dropped away and we reverted to the engine. We picked up breeze again in the West Kyle and sailed to windward until Ardlamont point at the end of Loch Fyne, looking forward to bearing away and even using the spinnaker when we headed North towards Ardrishaig. It was not to be, in its perverse Scottish way the wind followed us round and came from ahead again in Loch Fyne, eventually fading away so the last 2 hours were under engine again.

With 2 Admirals on board now the skipper stands no chance of getting his hands on the wheel!

One of us was brave enough for shorts!

We are now on the waiting pontoon at the Crinan Canal entrance, ready for the first lock in in the morning. Dinner, a Spanish style stew prepared by Robyn was followed by a quick walk to the Co op for ice creams and back along the canal bank where we had our first experience of the dreaded Scottish midges, hopefully they will sleep in in the morning!

On the waiting pontoon, ready for the morning lock.

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