57:29.13N 04:14.95W

Gruelling night because we had to be on the qui vive on the narrow approach into Inverness, locating direction lights for least shallow channel in an unfamiliar place. The wind was kind and a south-easterly helped us maintain good speed until becoming very calm at about 4.00 a.m. Thereafter, we changed from wind to diesel and slid over a sea which resembled mercury in the half-moonlight.

Dawn broke before we went under the high road bridge (Kessock bridge) before the beginning of the Caledonian Canal. There we rested briefly before being seen through the first lock by an extremely friendly lock-keeper who called everybody ‘manny’, one of the most laid back people I’ve met.

We moored after two locks in Seaport Marina, where we rendezvoused with Maryse, Steve’s girlfriend, who flew into Inverness yesterday, and arranged to meet Nick Chapman, a friend of mine who works in Inverness and will also accompany us for tomorrow. The bustle of mainland Scotland is causing some re-adjusting. My tired brain is having difficulty coping with the flood of useful information about the canal, but a good few dozes and simple chores about the boat while Steve and Maryse sorted out some accommodation for the night, has set me up for a night out for all four of us before we chug up the first few of the 29 locks which Telford built in 1822 into Loch Ness.

Affectionate greetings to all,

Steve and Trevor

PS The picture is of the extreme northeast tip of Scotland, Duncansby Head, which looks like a real edge of our land mass.