Tarbert, through the Kyles of Bute to Rhu 09 June 2024

 

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 farther through the Kyles it would appear that the Loch Striven NATO fuel bunker site is trying to disguise itself as a golf course.  I’m not sure that overflying spy planes will be fooled.

It’s great when a plan actually comes together.  We arrived at Rhu marina at about 14.30 (after an 554 nautical mile trip) and had a bite of lunch on board. Then went to check in at the marina office.  To our great pleasure the guy in the office was very friendly, immediately assured us that we wouldn’t be paying for berthing (we do have to pay for electricity - but we expected that).  It transpired that fuel here is very much cheaper than in Bangor despite both being run by Boatfolk.  Rhu gives the 60/40 discount plus an annual berth holders discount. Their diesel is £1.30 per litre compared to Bangor’s £1.60.

We walked into Helensburgh to get some beers and wine for the boat. It’s a 1.5 mile walk along a lovely promenade.  Helensburgh seems a nice town - its first Provost was an hotelier and entrepreneur, Henry Bell.  It was he who had Europe’s first successful steam-powered sea-going vessel built, The Comet, to make it easier for his ‘Baths Hotel’ customers to travel from Glasgow.

Helensburgh also lays claim to John Logie Baird who made the first public demonstration of television in 1926.  Another Helensburgh creative genius was Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who designed The Hill House for Walter Blackie, a famous Glasgow publisher.  The house was built in 1902 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

John Logie Baird - inventor of TV

Another claim to fame that Helensburgh has is that it is the western end of the John Muir Way.  This is a 134 mile (215 km) walk from here to Dunbar on the east coast.

The John Muir Way

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

“Keep close to nature’s heart and break clear away once in a while.”                        John Muir

On our way home we broke clear for a short while and had a pint in a Rhu pub - after all, it is our last night, for the time being.  Bus and Stena home tomorrow. 

Happy days.


The boat bird list is just 23 species.

Our route:


Our route overall (so far):






























































































































































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