It's definitely nice weather for it and far fewer midges!
My opinion too (and cheaper), but SWMBO wants to "do" the canal.
Very sunny at Gigha. And perfect tides over the next 2-3 days
Well, as long as she cleans the scum off the boat, washes the fenders and removes the grit from the deck as well as operating the sluices and lock gates (don't forget to close them) then I wish you a pleasant trip.
Suggest that she walks the tow path while you sail around to meet her. Work the tides along with suitable weather and its not a problem.
Yup - so back to plan A. Came round the Mull the other way, quite liked it. But Canal will be good for a change.
A "change", perhaps but "good" unlikely. My last trip was after WHYW when I fancied a "change" and it was not "good". Highlight was joining a queue of about 10 vessels waiting to get through the Oakfield Bridge, unmanned until about 10.30 and subsequently through to and out the Ardrishaig sea loch. Staff shortages and low morale seem endemic.
So why didn’t you take your own counsel and nip round the Mull?
'Cos I was knackered, the tide was about to start flooding, I needed diesel and had stopped at Crinan, there were other WHYW boats going through and I was in a hurry to get home for the grandkids arriving the next day. In retrospect, yes, I should have taken my own counsel and avoided the place, had a rest for 6 hours and another at Gigha and been home quicker.
The only special forces at Cairnbaan are the the midges!
Assuming this year then we passed through about ten days before you. Seemed to be sufficient staff and all bar one were sensible and helpful. The one who was essentially obstructive was a young lad “following orders” and someone senior soon pointed out that “don’t let boats through on their own to save water” didn’t apply to when there were an odd number of boats and you were going to fill the locks with no bot just to let traffic go the otherway!