Well it just depended on who you asked. However what was definite was that there was a tree down and blocking our passage through the canal.

It all began, for us, as we started through the sea lock, the swing bridge for the road and the next lock up. Apparently we would have to wait as there was a tree in the canal. We moored up above the second lock and eventually, after various communications, started walking along the canal in the direction of the incident – Auchindarrach

DAY 1

It was evident pretty quickly that this was not going to work; using a tractor’s winch to pull a heavy, submerged beach tree up at about a 20 to 30 degree angle and into the vertical metal sidings of the canal was going nowhere. Earlier in the day the winch had pulled the main trunk of the tree and roots wholly into the canal.

Prior to this it turns out that boats had been passing for the last two days …

Nothing to do.

DAY 2

Anyhoo, the following day they must have started early as by about 9 am we passed a hydraulic excavator which had already done the business and the chainsaw was buzzing away.

Through Lower Loch Fyne to Ardrishaig at the start of the Crinan Canal

There are times when you just have to celebrate and this was for Storm Glider’s arrival in Scotland so we really pushed the boat out. Well, they are made in Fochabers!

What and end to a great day on the water!

And there we were thinking the next day we would be able to pass through the 9 mile Crinan Canal …

Views of Arran

A fine, blue sky, 86 NM day motor-sailing to Scotland, with the views to prove it! This section 6a covers Kintyre, 6b is Arran, 6c is Ardrishaig. There is overlap in the pictures.

(Some weeks later) Presumably a form of ‘inferior mirage’ as the mirage is below the real image.

Views higher up the peninsula

And here we are in Bangor marina outside Belfast

Followed by a day trip to Belfast, with a little maritime history.

While there is no Titanic hereabouts there is the Titanic’s handmaiden – the Nomadic. Her job was to ferry the passengers to and from the Titanic and Olympic liners which could not get into Cherbourg harbour.

But much more interesting is this Ship Caisson used to seal off the dry dock.

This ‘boat’ is floated into position at the entrance to the dock after the main ship has entered. Next the ship caisson is flooded with water so that it sinks down with its keel and extended flanges fitting into the grooves in the lock entrance. This snug fitting boat / submarine now completely blocks the entrance of the dry dock so the the water can be pumped out leaving the main ship high and dry and ready to be worked on. But remember to keep it well supported Leith dry dock

Further upstream is the presently small (but in the future large) Belfast marina and obligatory new waterside dwellings etc. With some interesting ships to look at.

Back in Bangor

It’s a narrow, buoyed way in to Ardglass marina

Which opens out to enclose the marina pontoons

Instead, we shopped at Milligans – an independent, well stocked supermarket a short walk up from the front. Remember independent supermarkets in the UK?