The Storm - Day 21

Laggan Locks - Monday 23rd May 2011 - Day 21

Awoke at 06.00 by the yacht ranging against the river pontoon. With the long mooring ropes made extra springs and breast lines after pulling the bows hard against the pontoon and every fender on the port side.  The weather was very, very wet with lots and lots of wind.
By 10.00 the advise from the lock keeper was not to leave though he had let boats through at 08.00.  The message from the next lock down at Gairlochy was very bad and shortly afterwards all the canal locks stopped operating.
The noon weather forcast for sea area Malin was West to South West winds 7 to 9 increasing to violent storm 11, it is not very often you hear that one and not forgetting we were 30 miles from the sea. The walkers some of whom we had met along the canal doing the Great Glen walk were advised to stay in doors as the winds were bringing trees down.
By 13.00 Lizz went off to the Eagle barge while I stayed on board on watch, later ashore the power cables came down so no electric and the canal locks were completely shut down.  Lizz kept coming back now and again to see if all was satisfactory and in the evening the situation started to calm.
At 19.00 I went along to the barge which was in darkness operating by candle and torch light, I returned to the yacht and brought all of our available torches.
The Eagle barge is run by a lovely couple Paul and Janet, they carried on as best possible in very strange circumstances and I was amazed how they managed to serve drinks and cook meals to all who were taking shelter, they really appreciated their efforts.
At 21.00 the power came back on and we had our meals consisting of steak and ale, steak and stilton pies they were gorgeous.  One of the local walkers who was very reluctant to leave introduced me to Aberdue whiskey, so I was very happy when we left and if you are storm bound in the Caledonian Canal, it is advisable to be as near as possible to the Eagle Barge at Laggan Locks.