Day 8. Fort Augustus to Dochgarroch Locks. 19th May 2021
21 May 2021
• Loch Ness
by Jane Gronow • Bloomin' freezing.
We set off mid morning, moving smoothly down through the flight of locks in the centre of Fort Augustus - watched by curious tourists and assisted by a gaggle of cheery lock keepers. Then out onto Loch Ness - we motored across a vast expanse of grey water with nothing much to look at. Either side of the loch, great blocks of forestry (spruce, larch, broadleaves) followed the contours, the greens brightened up by our old friend, the flowering gorse. We waved back at the cruise ship passengers, peered at a hydro plant on the far shore and looked up at small planes passing overhead. Here is an interesting fact - in 1981 a Nessie hunt using sonar discovered a population of Artic char, one of Britain's rarest fish, living undetected in the loch for over 12,000 years. No sign of Nessie.
A little wind came up and the sails were unfurled and the engine switched off for the first time this year. The noise of the engine died leaving only the sound of the wind and the water lapping at the bow, Sue did a grand job of tacking.
Leaving the loch behind we went back onto the canal, motoring towards Dochgarroch lock. Jay safely steered the Vela past the long wier where the River Ness leaves the canal - its (unmarked) waters falling off the edge of the canal like an infinity pool -quite an unnerving stretch.
Supper - lovely pasta dish
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