This is a very unusual start to the day, there is no wind.
Lizz at the helm as we make our way to the locks with Ben Nevis in the background. We entered the first lock at 08.45 and began the descent of the flight of 8 locks at 'Neptunes Staircase'. With us in the locks was one other yacht from France who was returning from the Arctic and on his way back to the Mediterrean. With no wind the famous Scottish midges arrived along with the swallows who were feeding off the midges as they skimmed across the lock surface. By 10.00 we were at the bottom of the locks and awaiting the opening of the road and railway swing bridges. Once through it was only a short distance to the Corpach sea lock and entered the second lock at 10.30. Here you complete the paperwork for the canal transit and hand back the key.
With the backdrop of Ben Nevis with its snow on the top we left the canal at 11.00 past Fort William and into Loch Linnie. We motored down the loch and passed through the overfalls at the narrows of the Corran Point lighthouse. The wind was now beginning to show its hand and we started real sailing at 13.45 for the first time, though the engine was still running in neutral. By 15.15 the genoa had to be taken back in as the wind began increasing while we were south of Shuna Island. Passed inside Lismore Island and the mainland which then opened out for the crossing of the Lynn of Lorn. Now this is what we were used to, the wind and waves increased with buckets of rain as we tried to make headway south. By 18.00 we were off the entrance to Oban harbour and made our way to the marina in Ardantrive Bay on the Isle of Kerrera opposite the town of Oban. We went ashore for a warm welcoming meal and drink only to find the facilities were in a open air small marquee with open sides. I could not believe who thought this would work in Scotland. We had our meal and drink under a great big gas heater which did not help finishing off a day inwhich we started in no wind conditions and ended in a near gale. 
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