Tuesday 30 August 2011

31st August

Arrived in Oban at 1400hrs after a lovely passage.

Went to the parrot sanctuary and had the most amazing night. Yvonne and Ian are two of the kindest and most unbelievable people I have met on this trip.

I learnt so much about the behavour of parrots and also found out that Finley may well me a girl !!!!!

I was leaving tomorrow but I can not bring myself to leave as I am going to help at the sanctuary tomorrow as a wee thank you for the bags of gifts and food for Finley given by Yvonne and Ian.

Sunday 28 August 2011

Oban Marina

http://vimeo.com/24212614

28th August

Weather's not good, hopefully going to Oban on Tuesday and I really cannot wait to get there as I have just discovered something that has blown me away...

There is a sanctuary on the island of Kerrera which is where my next stop is, its website is www.parrotbehaviourconsultant.com
This place has just hit the spot with me, the work they do is simply unbelievable.

If you have a box of Kleenex tissues at the ready please look at their web site and even better make a donation.

Friday 26 August 2011

26th August

Currently at the top of Neptune's Staircase.

Next stop the Atlantic Sea, Going to have a day off tomorrow and get Zuma ready for the seas again and hopefully be in Oban on Monday..

Weather forecast isn't looking too good for the weekend, but then again it is Bank Holiday weekend !!

Loved the Canal and I would recommend it to anyone who has the chance to 'sail' through it.

Thursday 25 August 2011

25th August

Sorry for no updates, as there has been no internet connection.

I am currently in Loch Lochy, the canal is unbelievable, I never realised scenery like this existed in Britain.

Hoping to get some electricity and supplies as all the contents in my fridge have had to be discarded due to no fridge and food stocks are running low.

Next stop Neptunes Staircase..




Friday 19 August 2011

First time for everything


I just dont know what came over me, ,,, getting it up was ok but then I had to get it down....

19th August

Arrived in Inverness at 1500 hrs, really uncomfortable crossing as wind on nose all the way, wind over tide.

So only managed to sail for half an hour getting out of Lossiemouth.

Had spinnaker up yesterdaY on route from Peterhead, Ive never seen it before as the thought of it scared me to death, never mind flying it, getting it up was ok, but then I had to figure out how to get it down.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Leg 21 Eyemouth to Arbroath

17th August

Eighteen years ago today my son Alex was born.

Happy Birthday Mate, hope to see you soon, missing you so much.....

Leaving for Lossiemouth at 0500 in morning.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

16th August

Decided to stay in Peterhead as strong winds are forcast for today and tomorrow, so going to miss out Whitehills and go to Lossiemouth on Thursday which should pull back a day.

Decided to jump in and give Zuma a clean and check all is in order below water, unfortunately my anode is missing from the shaft so I am going to have to either dry Zuma out somewhere or pay to get her lifted out at Inverness or Largs :( a bit of a set back as funds are running very low !!!












Monday 15 August 2011

15th August

Arrived in Peterhead at 1400hrs after a sleepless night against the wall in Stonehaven, glad to be in a marina with electric and water.

Hopefully leaving for Whitehills in morning, fingers crossed.

Time to catch up with the lack of sleep....

Sunday 14 August 2011

14th August

Arrived at Stonehaven at 1900 hrs, gusty sail for most of way.

Stonehaven is beautiful, amazing green cliff formations when entering harbour, only trouble
is I canny get of my boat as I am up against a wall (which is just like sandpaper) with no ladder so I canny have a look around.

Setting sail for Peterhead at 0630 hrs in morning, weather permitting.

Leaving Arbroath was hard as I met some lovely people, especially Dod's family for there kindness and the wonderful picture Kelsy drew for me.


Saturday 13 August 2011

13th August

Had a good day in Arbroath, went to the Sea Feast in Arbroath which was really good, had a barbi on Zuma with some of the locals really good carnival feel to the harbour.

Hopefully leaving for Stonehaven in morning as a little break in weather as developed, enjoyed Arbroath..

Thursday 11 August 2011

11th August

The weather was forecast was no good for today but when I eventually woke to check the weather forecast it looked ok apart from the lock gates being closed and the break in the weather for Friday has now gone to F7 so I have decided to stay for the Sea festival on Saturday and try and raise more monies and more awareness of the condition.

I think the only way to get to Inverness with the forecast is to do short trips, so the plan now is to leave for Montrose on Sunday then Stonehaven Monday and so on until I get to the Canal.

Wednesday 10 August 2011

10th August

The weather sucks, I was all prepared to set sail today to Stonehaven, I gave them a call just to say that I will be there today, only to be told to forget it as big choppy seas, almost impossible to get in and no space with boats being stuck there.....the low pressure is certainly dominating at the moment, so close to the canal yet so far.

On a positive note, a white pudding supper is tremendous !!

Monday 8 August 2011

8th August

Stuck in Arbroath, weather a wee bit stormy so got my washing done,(clean bed sheets tonight :)) fixed the battery by adding water as cells were bone dry, shopping and found a pet shop for food for Finley as we were down to our last monkey nuts !!

Hopefully going to make a dash for it on Wednesday, desperate to get in Caledonian canal, only 154 mile to go to the canal..

Saturday 6 August 2011

6th August

Arrived in Arbroath at 1800hrs after a lovely crossing being chased by some nasty weather, heaven's have opened in a big way. bed time..

Friday 5 August 2011

Leg 20 Scarborough to Eyemouth via Hartlepool

Leg 19 Grimsby to Scarborough

5th August

Found internet connection in Eyemouth library, Weathers not so go at the moment, which has kept me in Eyemouth, hopefully leaving for Arbroath in the morning as there is a little weather window to get over there, after that its looking pretty awful for a week or so as storms are hitting Scotland, so it may be a wee stay in Arbroath...

Wednesday 3 August 2011

3rd August 2011

Greetings from Scotland. Arrived at Eyemouth yesterday after a very misty crossing. Great to be in Scotland.

Was going to leave for Arbroath this morning, but a phone call from a fellow sailor put a stop to that due to heavy fog in Arbroath. However, lovely day in Eyemouth, hopefully leaving for Arbroath tomorrow morning, weather permitting.

No internet connection whatsoever, having to relay blog down the phone. Apologies for no video, as soon as the internet connection is available, videos will be posted.

Had my first langoustine today, slightly overrated if you ask me, more like a prawn on steroids or an aneorexic lobster!! But the cod later on made up for that. Great little fishing town.