Lazaway Life

  Ailsa Craig has been our constant companion for this whole trip.  A destination to start with, and then a receding landmark as we neared Bangor. It is also known as Paddy’s Milestone because it is about half way between Glasgow and Belfast, and was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century.  It is, of course, also famously known as the source of the granite used for making curling stones. We left Troon just before 09.00 in calm but showery weather.  No sooner had we left but the town was engulfed in a dark shower, but we missed it. Arran Island was under and swimming in its own weather system. As we motored south nearing Ailsa Craig the weather improved - it was actually warm and sunny, as well as calm.  Just what we ordered! We passed the orange blob’s place at Turnberry looking splendid in the sun. As we passed close to Ailsa Craig it was looking very green.  From this eastern side there is no evidence of the huge Ga...

  There’s been a change of crew to bring Lazaway back to Bangor after its wee holiday in Rhu. We travelled up together yesterday - car to Europa bus centre in Belfast, bus to Stena, Stena to Cairnryan, bus to Glasgow, train to Helensburgh, then a walk in the rain to Rhu. Got to Lazaway just after 18.00, sorted out accommodation arrangements, and then to The Ardencaple Hotel bar for Balmoral Chicken for dinner. Not fancy, but quite tasty. After paying for our electric at the marina we set off at about 09.00 this morning  - in fairly calm weather, though grey and murky.  As we left Helensburgh behind we spotted the wreck of the Clyde “Sugar Boat” looking like a beached whale or a surfacing submarine. The MV Captayannis was carrying a full load of raw African sugar for the Tate & Lyle refinery in Greenock, when a storm hit on 27 January 1974.  The Greek registered vessel dragged its anchor. It drifted onto the anchor chains of a BP tanker and was holed below t...

  The Toward Point Lighthouse looking splendid as we turn into the Clyde estuary. The decision was that we would not venture past the end of the Mull of Kintyre into the north Irish Sea today.  We think the sea state is likely to be grim and the journey would be miserable, and the forecast for the next few days is as bad or worse.  So instead we have taken a beautiful 4 hour trip through the Kyles of Bute in breezy conditions (but with a calm sea state) to a marina at Rhu in the Clyde estuary.  Rhu is run by the same people as Bangor marina and therefore we are able to berth here for up to 30 days at no (additional) cost.  Our plan is to leave the boat and head home by bus and Stena ferry.  When the weather settles we’ll come back and take her back to Bangor. The village of Kames on the north side of the Kyles.  These little places along the Kyles look beautiful - and mostly look rather well kept, probably with Glasgow holiday home money. A little far...

  Tarbert from the castle. We have a day in Tarbert because the weather is very windy, so we are hiding.  And the forecast for the week ahead is very unsettled.   Tarbert means that we have to walk up to the castle. Tarbert is in a strategic location being on the isthmus between East and West Lochs Tarbert, and the castle became a Royal castle in 1292. In 1306 Robert the Bruce passed through on his way to spidery Rathlin.  In 1325 he set in hand the repair and extension of the original castle. As it was. As it is now. Hebridean Sheep graze the castle grounds. After lunch, between squalls of wind and rain, we walked across the isthmus to West Loch Tarbert, just to have look at where the Vikings carried their boats. It’s not very exciting but nevertheless worth the walk. There is a rickety old pier that is still used by a couple of fishing boats. It is also something of a graveyard for old wooden boats. Back on the edge of  Tarbert is the Health Centre which maint...

  Leaving the first of the descending locks at Cairnbaan this morning.  After a lot of heavy rain through the night it was good to have dry weather for the journey.  The lock keeper's team at Cairnbaan were an extremely friendly and efficient bunch.  They got us down through a ladder of four locks in 35 minutes.  Descending is much easier than ascending, because there is no surging incoming water, and we were on our own for these four locks.  It was almost relaxing. For the following three locks farther down the canal we were paired again with the same yacht (and skipper) as yesterday.  The same degree of ‘eptness’ as yesterday was on display but because we were descending it was much less stressful. Much of the journey was calm and idyllic.  Wonderful. It didn’t take long to reach Ardrishaig at the eastern end of the canal.  Here we were guided through four locks where the lock keepers were all women (three of the four of them looked as thou...