Little Ship in the Caledonian

[LittleShip]

Little Ship this year has been up in Scotland, in fact she is still there and will start her journey back to Wales ...... sometime

I have friends that came over from the States who joined us for a couple of weeks in the Caledonian. Between us we have hundreds of photos but I wont even try to give a full report on what we did or where we went.

Here is a flavour of the Caledoina trip ......

This is Loch Locky, The first of the Lochs you go through.

This was my favourite spot on the trip it is Kytra Locks and the Lock keeper is female. we now call it Lady Lock

As you can see it is very peaceful and quiet........ that is until this came along it made Little Ship look quite small

Loch Ness

Urquart Castle On Loch Ness

We left the Caledonian and stopped at Ballchulish (Sp) then moved on down to Oban. on entering the bay this arrived so I thought it was worth a picture.

Weather forcast from here was grim and forcast F8 Nevertheless with hand on heart we made off for the Crinan.... they lied I'm pleased to say.

I know we passed this but I cant remember where !!

We passed between Easdale which is quite narrow but very picturesque. It is where slate was mined in the 1800

then on through Cuan narrows

And back into the Crinan Canal, some parts of which seem very narrow.

We stayed overnight at the mid point

Then left and went on to East Loch Tarbert where Little Ship met her big brother

It is a wood Grand Banks Alaskan in beautiful condition, we were invited on board and treated to a tour and a wee Dram by the owners.

We have now left Little Ship in Portavadie and will be returning this weekend. I'm not sure that I want to leave this area as it has taken me 15 years to get back there.

So far I have had a great time and the cruising (IMO) is second to non. Anybody thinking of doing this trip should make the effort it is well worth it.

well apparently I'm not allowed to post any more pictures in this thread as I'm limited to 20.

Hope you enjoyed them.

Tom

 

[Kawasaki]

Brilliant Tom!

 

[Greg2]

Fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing them.
Having sold our mobo with thoughts of moving to sail we are interested in a yacht in that part of the world and are considering doing some cruising up there should we go ahead and make an offer. Not to be missed by the look of it!

 

[johnwest]

Super pictures. I used to covert an Alaskan when I worked in a well known marina. Locking in and out She always had the lock to herself. Never used lines just held herself in the middle of the lock on her engines. No bowthruster. Beautiful to watch.

j

 

[Searush]

Did the poor wee whippets not get a good run at a rabbit or 10 then?

Great pics, thanks. SWMBO suspects that's Castle Sween btw. I liked the pic of your boat in the woods - back to her roots!!

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

Very nice. Thanks

 

[BartW]

fantastic stuff !

despite our purchase of a small ship in the med, we are really looking forward to our trip to Oban in september with the "small" boat

Was still hesitating towing the boat till Oban, instead of steeming all the way up through the Crinan canal, but your post(s) took away all doubts.

these pics look like in a fairy-tale

oh and in case you didn't know, there is a way around the 20 pics,
just make a new (or two) post(s) in the same thread with another 20 pîcs

thanks again for sharing,
and now look again one more time

 

[sarabande]

what a lucky Little Ship to have a nice kind owner to take her on such adventures !


Memorable stuff, everywhere.

 

[Philiz]

Looks fantastic Tom, no wonder you all enjoyed yourselves. Great set of pics!

 

[stuhaynes]

What an excellent post! Brilliant pictures too. I'd love to do the Caledonian. Couple of prob's though.... Will our old girl (she's 60 this year) be up to the sea journey from the Humber? Well actually this is the only problem so it's not a couple of....

There were 6 built in the Black Swan class, we believe that ours is No.3, one of them moored in Ripon for a while (this from Pat Jones, ex commodore Ripon MBC). On leaving Ripon the boats owner did the Humber, East coast and into Inverness, across the Cally and down the west coast. He came back in through the Leeds and Liverpool.

As some of you know, we're looking at a few weeks away this year but the L&L seems to be a no-go for us with a draft of 3'3".

Anyway.... Smashing pictures, and as far as the 20 pic's limit goes.... just post part 2!

ATB, Stu

 

[blueglass]

Anyway.... Smashing pictures, and as far as the 20 pic's limit goes.... just post part 2!

ATB, Stu

another here would love to see the next 20. Outstanding stuff!

 

[ACE]

Fantastic, really enjoyed the post and pictures, I live in Scotland and there are times that we just don't appreciate the beauty of the country we live in... Thanks for sharing really enjoyed your pics ... .

 

[Skylark]

Thanks for sharing your great adventure, Tom. Some really stunning scenery.

David

 

[sailorman]

wot is Little Ships Ensign

 

[LittleShip]

I Knew somebody would ask.........

I did say that I had some frinds over from the states so....

http://www.foundingfathers.info/American-flag/Grand-Union.html

Now.... who knows what the Jackstaff one is

Tom

 

[cadser]

Excellent, now that is what boating is all about. May the rest of the trip be safe, aye.

 

[Searush]

Now I'd have expected crossed whippets on a sofa for LS.

 

[LittleShip]

I'll try and do something with this one.

Tom

 

[Searush]

Gawd, the tan one at the back looks really guilty. You missing any cream cakes, slippers or nicely varnished flagstaffs recently?

 

[hlb]

Well done Tom, I did it about sixteen years ago, but not the Caledonian. Work got in the way. But the Crinan is well worth doing. We just got to Tobermory, before having to come back. Boat sold in Troon. A bit of a pity. Except MF came along. A total thoroughbred.

Not many put the effort in to tell stories these days. Or maybe theres no stories to tell.

At least theres one left that just did it. Is there any one else.???