,, and then we went,,,,,,,,,

[Ian Wright]

,,,,,,to Ardrishaig and the entrance to the Crinan Canal. Have a look here http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/crinan/crinancanal/ if you like. A much nicer canal than the Forth-Clyde (!) shorter too, only nine or ten miles, but it saves a very exposed 70 mile beat, bound to be a beat, round the Mull of Kintire. Very pretty and Crinan Basin was staffed with young ladies in crisp shirts and shorts,,,,, think Virginia Mckenna,,,,,, Beer at the hotel was expensive though.
We locked out the next day for a good sail to Oban. Out of the Basin through Dorus Mor at the right time of tide, you won't get through at all at the wrong time and at the other wrong times you'll get spat through at high speed straight into the race of Corrievrekan which is NOT a good plan. Look it up on the web and see why! From two miles away on a good day we could hear it ,,,,,, http://www.faulksbooks.co.uk/greyhouseinthewoods/corr.htm
Anyway the sail to Oban was a delight, and about time too. We picked up a mooring each off the town, drank more Single Malt than was good for us and turned in.

IanW

[Mike Field]

.
Och, ye puir wee de'il.
.

[John of Phoenix]

Great story Ian. Love the links to the pictures.

Ain't the internet grand. smile.gif

[Ken Buck]

And for more on the Whirlpool, check this article out:
Smithsonian Journeys - In the Eye of the Whirlpool (http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/journeys/01/aug01/feature_full_page_1.html)

It has some pictures of the Corryvreckan and others, plus various tales of it and other whirlpools. The pics are OK, but small. I was looking for large detailed pictures of ocean liners being pulled into the whirlpool, but alas, none to be found. :confused:

[TimH]

beautiful wallpaper shots of Scotland.

wallpaper (http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/uswallpaper/index.html)

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by Ken Buck:
I was looking for large detailed pictures of ocean liners being pulled into the whirlpool, but alas, none to be found. :confused: Try the Portland Race, an area of fast tides and uneven rocky seabed off the south coast of England.
You can pass close inshore, about 20 feet from the beach, and find smooth but fast water at the right time of tide. Or get 5 miles south to avoid the worst of the races rough water.
I enquired of the local Coastguard at Weymouth for the 'best' times to get past. After they gave me the information one said, " Don't risk getting swept into the race. The Navy test big ships there,,,, and they break them!"

IanW.

[John B]

Really enjoying these Ian. Keep em coming please.

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by John B:
Really enjoying these Ian. .Thanks John, I was starting to feel like the Anciant Mariner "who stoppeth one of three". smile.gif
,,,,,,, and I haven't even got to the bit about the Albatross and running out of water yet,,,,,

IanW

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Ian- Last time in Scotland I rowed the Calidonian Canal. Very enjoyable, but now I'd like something more adventurous. I'd like to row from Crinan to the Isle of Jura, then perhaps south to Islay- and back again. Two questions, how feasable might this be in terms of weather and commercial traffic?
And, where can you suggest I apply to rent a rowing boat for a week- mind you, a simple fixed seat work boat, nothing fancy, and maybe 16' with good stout oars. And finally, I appreciate anything you can do to help me realize this anbition.

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by Dale R. Hamilton:
Ian- Last time in Scotland I rowed the Calidonian Canal. Very enjoyable, but now I'd like something more adventurous. I'd like to row from Crinan to the Isle of Jura, then perhaps south to Islay- and back again. Two questions, how feasable might this be in terms of weather and commercial traffic?
And, where can you suggest I apply to rent a rowing boat for a week- mind you, a simple fixed seat work boat, nothing fancy, and maybe 16' with good stout oars. And finally, I appreciate anything you can do to help me realize this anbition.Not sure I can help much...
The trips are do able I'm sure (not by me!), the weather will be the deciding factor. Commercial traffic should not be a problem, there is only the Navy and the CMcB inter-island ferries. A thought, why not ask CMcB for help? Might be worth it. No idea where you could borrow a boat, though I know a couple of folk who'll build you one. smile.gif

IanW

[ 08-25-2004, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Ian Wright ]

[Dale R. Hamilton]

well, can you advise how the usual sea conditions might be on the east coast of Jura. Might these be managed by a single oarsman? And whatabout that big damn whirlpool- would we be anywhere around it?

I'm sending emails to some of the hotels/B&B's to ask for a referal for a boat. I don't want to buy one- but I'll pay good cash for the use of it for a week.

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by Dale R. Hamilton:
well, can you advise how the usual sea conditions might be on the east coast of Jura. Might these be managed by a single oarsman? And whatabout that big damn whirlpool- would we be anywhere around it?

.Usual? you may expect better weather in summer rather than winter ,,,,,,,,(?) but who knows. While I was up there we had everything from flat calm and oily to NE7 and fog.
That big damn whirlpool causes overfalls and standing waves UP TO SEVEN MILES TO THE WEST avoid it like the plague. Leave Crinan, through Dorus Mor and turn right.
Get all the BA charts of the area you can afford plus Ordinance Survey Maps for on shore detail. And good luck!

IanW

[John B]

The links are good. I'm struggling a bit with me mums 1939 atlasoftheworld and the map in asterix.( lots of countries added... some are missing....)

[Hwyl]

Originally posted by Ian Wright:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by John B:
Really enjoying these Ian. .Thanks John, I was starting to feel like the Anciant Mariner "who stoppeth one of three". smile.gif
,,,,,,, and I haven't even got to the bit about the Albatross and running out of water yet,,,,,

IanW</font>[/QUOTE]Keep em coming.
The only downside is that I now have Paul McCartney's awful song "Mull of Kyntire" (AKA Mulligan's Tyres) reverberating through my brain.