Sunday was a lazy day in Crinan Basin. I had a visit from very good friends Tina and David and their grandson Leo, They were visiting their son in Stirling and made the 2hr journey over to Crinan. It was great seeing them.
On Monday morning we were up sharply to catch the 08.18 bus into Lochgilphead to do some shopping. We missed the oportunity to stop on the canal at the petrol station and mini supermarket just outside Lochgilphead thinking we would be able to buy food at Crinan. Crinan only has a Hotel, normally a coffee shop, which is currently closed due to a water leak and a boatyard with a chandlery. The chandlery does have a few basics in the way of food, but not anywhere near enough to replenish our boats for several more days away from shops. The bus took us directly to Lochgilphead picking up mainly youngsters on their way to school. The next return bus was going to be leaving Lochgiphead at 11.50 the again at 3 something, obviously after the school finished. We had a mooch around the town and a short walk along the canal before doing our shopping, The bus came along dead on time. The return journey followed the canal almost to Crinan then took a left turn and we had a most scenic tour through forest and alongside Lochs out to Tayvalich, then turning round and all the way back to where it turned off the Crinan Road at Bellanoc and the rest of the way to Crinan.
After lunch we got the boats ready to depart the Basin and into the Sea Lock out on to the Sound of Jura. We refuelled at the Crinan Boat yard, just around the corner from the lock. We were able to sail most of the way down to Craighouse and found vacant visitor moorings in sight of the Jura Distillery. Maybe somewhere to visit tomorrow. The wind is blowing as I write this and the boat rocking and swinging about a fair bit, so it may be a disturbed night.
