June 7 It's Only Lock and Roll and We Like It

The day started in a very umpromising way, wet dripping bone soaking wet. the kind of day where you have to force yourself to go outside and do what is required when all you really want to do is hide  under your duvet. Without any enthusiasm we dropped our weighty rainsoaked lines and proceeded down the canal, pushing gates, adjusting lines, opening sluices and running about. Past lock 4, lock 5, lock 6, and soon,  8 more to go. Beautiful but moist, cups of tea didn't help fend off the damp. Then as the scenery began to change from gentle pastoral to a more wild dramatic place. At last the sun broke through.

Rumline and her crew were welcomed into the most beautiful landscape. The beauty numbed the aching muscles tested by the weighty doors. Just when we thought it couldn't get better it did. We questioned why we are so lucky to be here. Although planning to push on to Jura Fate intervened once again and we missed the last lock into the sea and our tardiness was rewarded with a night in Crinian.

Still smiling despite the Rain

Rummy

Scenery starts to change

Crinian Basin

Crinian Basin Lighthouse

View from the Basin

A Puffer to add to the atmosphere

Crinian is beautiful and with open mouthed awed we looked past the picturesque little harbour, a puffer tied to its bank and gazed ouver the water to wild shores. The pics tell it all.
Go to the Crinian Hotel bar for delicious local prawns and a gin and tonic. It's a civilised by quirky place, art lined walls and a artists studio which over looks the bay. A perfect ending to the day which had little promise.