Karen Hodges diary

The girl from Milton Keynes contines her loop of the British isles in the wake of Ellen

Peterhead-Argyll.

From Peterhead to Banff was uneventful fast sailing. I had a nice stay in Banff, invited into a couple's home for a shower, food and chat. Thank you Andy and Jenny for your generosity and homemade cakes.

I left Banff with very little wind and felt that I would just try to make Lossimouth and then plan my passage to the canal from there. 10 miles in and the wind backs so that it's hard on the nose. I battle on somewhat disgruntled but still making way. There is a huge black cloud ahead and it's raining hard, just then dead ahead a bolt of lightning hits the water. You have never seen anyone turn so yellow belly so quickly! I managed to turn the boat round on her nose, I'm not sure whether I tacked or gybed all I new was that I was running into whitehills fast as I could. The lightning and thunder were on top of each other as I was blown into the marina. The HM met me which is always nice saying 'I bet you're glad you're in!' YEP. Happily tied up next to much bigger metal poles I grabbed the camera to take a picture of the monster clear blue sky and calm sea. What's that about? Luckily I have witnesses so I now I didn't imagine it.

Next morning, about 0800 - not too early I head out in to the same mirror calm sea. Motoring is slow work so I planned to see how I felt at Buckie. At Buckie a fair wind started to show so I decided to sit out there until it changed - 'won't be long' I thought! Passed Lossiemouth so I put the anchor down for 2 hours outside Nairn to check my nav into the canal and wait for the tide so that it was fair passed Fort George and under Inverness bridge. 0400 off I go, engine on again but still lovely with Dolphins and Seals about. I make the entrance to the Canadonian Canal at 1200 and tie up next to Elan Adventurer. She is 44ft LOA and has a 43hp engine so they adopted me as there fourth fender!

They towed me through the first lock and then we where stuck as a swing bridge had jammed so we went to the pub. Next day they towed me up the first 5 locks, setting me free in Loch Ness. It was horrendous - a strong head wind of course and waves which I hadn't expected in a loch. In the first 3 hours I had made 2 miles and was not at all impressed. I couldn't even have the engine on to help as it was out of the water more than in. I got near to the castle and decided to plug on as 6 miles in one day is just not good enough, so I did 9. I spyed the pontoon with a boat already there and decided to stop. Happy the boat there was Elan and they took my lines and put a glass of wine in my hands. Then we went and had a 3 course meal and drinks!

Next day we crossed the loch and stopped for lunch (drinks) then went to Fort Augustus and the pub! Next afternoon they were leaving having delivered the boat to Fort Augustus so we had a goodbye breakfast in the pub. They were fantastic and generous guys and after my 3 day holiday I was a bit depressed at being on my own again, that and I had a hangover. It had to end because if it had carried on much longer I'd be too chubby for a Mini Transat boat and I'd have to jump straight to a 50 footer!

I got to the end of the Canal and then out to Dunstaffnage. I'd like to say here that a few of the places I have stopped at have been both helpful and kind but Dunstaffnage outdid them all. The guys running the marina are friendly and helpful (navigation advice!) The couple who run the hotel/bar 'The wide mouthed frog' are sailing folk and are also very friendly and helpful (lifts in to Oben to chandlery) and generous. The food is fantastic and it's a nice bar. The couple who run the chandlery/Alba sailing went out of there way to get me a new depth sounder and get my battery charged. Altogether I left there with everything sorted and a good feeling.

From Dunstaffnage to Crinan was an exciting passage! I left with a strong head wind and a lumpy sea, not getting anywhere too fast but I had given myself a lot of time to get to the Sound of Luing ready for the turn of tide so it didn't matter. On reaching the Sound of Luing the wind had dropped and the sea flattened out. I found the red bouy at the top and lined myself up to pass inbetween the two lights. I was there very quickly so I checked the GPS, little wind on the nose, low revs on engine to save petrol...12knots!!!!

My grip on the tiller increased 10 fold as I whoosed along on the huge water conveyabelt with the words of a kindly gentleman buzzing round my head 'don't get sucked into the Gulf of Corryvreckan'

I floated passed the mouth of Corryvreckan at a more sedate 7 knots and looked in, it looked scary, Stephen King scary but I'm hard now, Thames Estuary hard. However I was glad to be in the sealock at Crinan: I'm Thames Estuary hard but not Mull of Kintyre at springs hard!!

My plan is Isle of Arran then Port Patrick then? East coast of Ireland or Wales? Any advice will be greatfully received! karenehodges@hotmail.com

Don't let the midges get you.

Apologies to British waterways for kicking lock number 9, it wouldn't open!

Luv on yas
Karen.