21.04.08
Lots of lochs and locks!
Which sums up the Caledonian Canal fairly succinctly, I think. Also - oystercatchers, buzzards, a confused guillemot who didn’t realise he wasn’t a freshwater bird, several friendly dogs and an over-friendly duck (who tried to sit on my head) and countless snow-capped mountains (including Ben Nevis). But no Loch Ness monster, irritatingly …
Our friends Richard and Helen had got their yacht, Hornpipe, out of its winter anchorage at Ardrossan and were taking her through the Caledonian Canal on their way to southern Norway, so R and I joined them at Fort William, just at the top of Neptune’s Staircase. Four days of bliss ensued, with lots of food and wine and the most remarkable views I’ve ever seen. Lots of work was done on the way, including the installation of a forward-looking sonar (not in time to do any monster-spotting, sadly) and some serious sandpapering and teak oiling. I always knew that boats involved a never-ending maintenance schedule, but it doesn’t sink in until you’ve seen it in action!
By Tuesday we were at Inverness, so R and I caught a bus back to Fort William (retracing our journey down the canal at what seemed like mad speed, compared to the leisurely five knots on the way up!), picked up the van at Banavie and I drove us back via the extremely scenic route, past Glencoe and down through Loch Lomond. Photographs here!
R had a brainwave and decided we should treat ourselves to dinner at the Creggans Inn on Loch Fyne - still drooling …
In other news - one more foster cat (who has since been reunited with his owners) spent a couple of days with us, and the gorgeous tabby cat next door has started to treat our place as her emergency back-up residence, so I can’t complain about a lack of feline company 
And - drum roll - R and I won the Observer cryptic crossword! Our names are in the paper and everything! Woo and hoo!
Donna said,
April 22, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Blimey, and I thought we wrote weird comments!
What’s all that about?
Sophie said,
April 22, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Bloody spammers!
porkluck said,
April 26, 2008 at 3:44 pm
wow… oystercatchers was a question the other day on “who wants to be a millionaire.” The guy was stuck between bird or fish. He chose bird. He was right! and won 50,000 dollars!!!
anyway, not sure why i shared that with you. have a nice day.
yours truly, the only muslim lesbian
Sophie said,
April 27, 2008 at 9:31 am
I thank you, porkluck! (Strange name for a Muslim …!)
Ian said,
May 28, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I know EXACTLY how you feel about winning the Observer cryptic crossword. When I was about 10 I won a colouring-in competition in the Bury Times. Got free tickets to see The Aristocats at the Odeon. Welcome to the club.
Sophie said,
May 31, 2008 at 7:56 am
Now we’ve got our sights set on the Saturday Guardian crozzie and the Private Eye one (you win £100 for that one!). Onwards and upwards …!