Caledonian Canal Day 5: Mixed weather and another injury

It started raining as forecast at 10pm on Monday and is still raining in the morning. It stops as we go up the canal, following a nice-looking yacht from Germany. It's almost sunny by the time we reach the Moy swing bridge, which is closed this time, with several boats already waiting. We and the yacht do 360s in the canal while we wait for the bridge as there is no room on the tiny jetty for more than a couple of boats. 

When the bridge opens we go straight through and on to wait for the bridge and lock at Gairlocky. Our attempt to tie up at the pontoon is a miss, and by the time Peter has turned around, avoided other approaching boats and turned around a second time there is no longer any room, so we raft up to one of the boats already moored (tie up to their side). We have to wait there a while, and when the bridge opens there are other boats waiting to come down the canal, including a huge barge. Finally it's our turn, and as we are rafted up we are the first boat to untie, pass through the bridge and into the lock. It's a very deep lock, and they drop lines down to you as you'd have no hope of getting a rope up to the top unless you were a caber-tosser. 

It's a FIFO system, so we are first out of the lock. One of the other hired cruisers passes us before we are even clear of the entrance channel, the others gradually pass us as we go through Loch Lochy at a leisurely speed, enjoying the scenery and dry weather, almost sunny!

Loch Lochy, rain behind us

Scottish green hillsides in Loch Lochy

At the other end we make our first mistake for the day. The boats who've passed us are now waiting for the Laggan Lock, and once again we do circuits while we are waiting, rather than tie up. As a result we don't get instructions from the lock keeper. I'm keen to hang back so we don't have to travel through Laggan Avenue in convoy, but Peter sees there is room for one more boat in the lock and heads in. Unfortunately there is only one lock keeper and he is still dealing with the third boat on the other side, so there is no one on our side to throw a line to. It's now blowing hard, so we drift across the lock, finish up almost diagonal. Lock keeper is not pleased. We were supposed to wait until told to come in. We do eventually get the boat back to the correct side of the lock and safely tied up, but the lock keeper has to do a huge amount of hauling to get the stern across. Definitely not pleased. We apologise profusely on our way out.

It's pleasantly calm in the shelter of the trees in Laggan Avenue. We're instructed to stay together with the other 3 boats in a pack so that we can go through the bridge at the end of Laggan Avenue together. After a while we catch up with another barge, so we proceed at a nice slow pace behind it and we all go through the Laggan Bridge together and into Loch Oich.

Laggan Avenue in convoy

A mini waterfall in Laggan Avenue

We have no wish to keep up with the other cruisers and potter through Loch Oich to find them all waiting at the pontoon at the other end, two moored and one rafted up. All that hurrying gets you nowhere. We do circuits - when we get close enough we shout for directions and are told that we have to wait for the tourist barge (now behind us) to go through the bridge and lock first, as they need the whole lock to themselves. So we go back into Loch Oich and poodle around in the vicinity of the barge, which isn't moving much.

Following the tourist barge into Loch Oich

Scenery

When the barge finally sets off for the end of the lock, we don't hurry after it as we understand we'll have to wait for a second bridge opening. However the other three cruisers do follow it through the bridge, so there's now plenty of room for us to tie up and wait for the next opening. It's now raining again and blowing hard, and in the process of putting a stern line on to the pontoon I jam my hand between line and cleat. I jammed three fingers, which are now cut and bruised, but my little finger, not jammed, is the one that really hurts - I think it got bent and it's either sprained or I've cracked a metacarpal. I can't type with that finger, having to use fourth finger on the A key.

The mangled hand

We have a longish wait for a workboat to arrive which will trigger the next bridge opening. Despite my injury, we untie successfully, pass through the bridge and into Cullochy Lock behind the workboat and another cruiser, this time not until the lock keeper is ready! Lines are successfully thrown and managed. As we leave we're told that the next lock is expecting the three of us, but we've had enough for the day and tie up to the pontoon where we spent Sunday night. And now the wind has dropped and the sun is actually out - need to take off another layer of clothes.