Day 43 Passage 16 Whitehills to Lossiemouth
As it is sometimes difficult to get a WiFi signal I will post updates as and when I can do them.  Unfortunately where there is a poor signal it is also very difficult to upload photos as well - so be patient.
We left Whitehills (probably the first place we have really enjoyed) at 0530 and had a very gentle saill to Lossiemouth.  Very light wind and it just got hotter and hotter.  Bertie was happy on deck.  However, as we arrived in Lossiemouth I had a totall panic - I just could not see where the harbour entrance was.  Nothing.  Perry, ever cool, just said we will be following our GPS waypoints in.  I really could not see where we were going to enter the harbour until we actually did - it was a bit tricky as well.  We were greeted by someone from the marina - which apppears to be a thing in the East of Scotland, and tied up - opposite Acid Rain and EIO (some chums we met in Grimsby).  Temperature went up and up and poor old Bertie just faded.  Got some supplies in and some yummy pies and quiches.  Decided to move on to Inverness next day.

 Day 44 Passage 17 Lossiemouth to Inverness
Can you believe it after all that bad weather it is now too hot.  Left Lossiemouth at 0315 (early because of the tides) and had a very gently sail down to Inverness.  Toilet packed up - disaster!  It was a slow sail, but we managed to see bottle nosed dolphins ( they are running trips to see them, and we got to see them for free).  Tied up and Perry took on the onerous task of fixing the toilet - which he did!  Good boy.  Bertie is still passed out with the heat, but we are showered and fresh for our shepherds pie tonight.  Looks like we will be going for the Caledonian Canal tomorrow - yet another milestone.  I must admit I am not really looking forward to all those locks......

Day 41 passage 15 Peterhead to Whitehills
Left just before 5.00, everything was fine. Left at same time as Acid Rain.  A reasonable wind not too much, and although we left very early it was so that we could maximise on the tide to take us round Rattray Head. 

Acid Rain off Rattray Head

Bertie inside while Perry doea some nav

Rattray Head

Unfortunately after about three hours we no longer had the tide with us and we were sailing into the wind which made us start to slam into the waves.  This really unnerved Bertie, and as it continued he started to get really stressed and was looking for somewhere to hide.  In the end I brought him on deck.

Here he is on deck being comforted and bribed with biscuits - and yes it was that cold!

He stayed on deck for the rest of the journey. We passed some interesting scenery of Whitehills

Off Whitehills

Tied up in Whitehills a bit later than planned,

Day 42
Decided to stay here another day as the weather tomorrow will be a little better.  So I caught up on washing - what's new! and Perry set about setting fire to the boat - long story, but best left unsaid!
We will be going on to Lossiemouth tomorrow.

Bloto in Whitehills marina

We've explored the village a couple of times and it's just like Brittany!

Day 40
Decided not to move because the forecast showed that the winds would be too strong for us.  However, wind will be in a different direction tomorrow, and although F4 we intend to leave at about 4.45 and head off to Whitehills, passing the dreadful Rattray Head.

Day 38 Passage 13 Arbroath to Stonehaven
Woke up to rain! Perry was fed up and said we're not moving!  After some convincing decided to call Acid Rain which had gone to Stonehaven day before.  They said they were still there and we could tie up to them.  This was better than all the way to Peterhead.  Set off at 11.15 - raining! Gradually wind picked up as well, and then it got very cold. Basically, yet another asful sail. Got in at 4.15 tied up to Acid Rain who was tied up against the wall.    We were absolutely soaked and very cold.  Heater on, so dried things and gradually thawed out.  As we were still not at high water there was no way to get Bertie ashore.  After about 3 hours, Perry managed to haul Bertie up the wall for his walk - all a bit shocking for him. Getting back aboard was just as traumatic - he is now passed out!  Tomorrow hopefully will be Peterhead.

Arbroath harbour

Perry and Bertie in Stonehaven

Stonehaven

Tied up to Acid Rain

Day 39 Passage 14 Stonehaven to Peterhead
We left Stonehaven at 4.30 and outside the harbour saw loads and loads of porpoises or dolphins - I don't know the difference.  It took ages to get a photo.  It was as usual a long and roly poly ride to Peterhead, and also very cold.  We are now happily tucked in in the marina, and the only doubt is about tomorrow as we are getting mixed information about the weather.

There really was a dolphon

told you so

and even closer -making the boat roll

interesting arch near Peterhead

Peterhead marina and beach which Bertie loved

Day 36 Passage 12 Eyemouth to Arbroath and Day 37

St Abbs Head

Isle of May

Arbroath harbour

Arrived in Eyemouth and moored onto a pontoon alongside harbour wall.  Harbour master very welcoming and the town has had some European money and Scottish money to help develop it.  It was interesting that they are trying very hard to attract business and tourists.

 Eyemouth Harbour - I am having trouble with the blog page at the moment,, but will continjue anyway.  Left Eyemouth Harbour yesterday morning and went on to Arbroath (yes the place of the Smokies).  Passed St Abbs Head en route (yes the one of the weather forecast). And also crossed Firth of Forth which had Isle of May stuck in the middle of it. (bit like this blog).  Arrived in Arbroath (which has a strange lock in system) and greeted by friendly harbour master and his singing dog (who apparently has a facebook page)

Arbroath welcome.  We are stilll in Arbroath today as the weather forecast yesterday didn't look too special.  Unfortunately, today has turned out fine and we are still here.  We are planning on moving on to Peterhead tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Day 35 Passage 11 Amble to Eyemouth
Short term wifi here.  Weather incredibly calm so motored all the way.  Unfortunately we had a minor misshap.  The boiler let go of its hose and filled the bilges with 100 litres of water.  Perry has just finished making a full repair, so we are fine.  Sounds worse than it was, but we were both a bit fed up with it.

Anyway, left at 7.15 this morning, passing Lindisfarne, Holy Island and seeing loads of birds, including puffins who were incredibly difficult to photograph!

Farne islands

Holy Island/Lindisfarne

The best I could do capturing a puffin on the camera

Berie finally managed to worm his way on deck

We are now in Scotland and have also done over 500 miles.  Tomorrow should be Arbroath - but I must check the weather first.

Day 34
Still in Amble, but tomorrow we are leaving for Eyemouth (after we've checked the weather yet again) at about 0700.  Acid Rain decided to leave, heavier boat so doesn't get thrown about so much.

Acid Rain leaving Amble

Hope we meet up with them again.
Caught up with the shopping as we appeared to be eating our way through our supplies.  This afternoon decided to go for a walk along the river bank.  Headed towards the castle

Walkworth Castle from the river bank.

Took the photo of the castle just in case didn't make it all the way to the castle.  However, we did.....

Walkworth castke - worth the walk!

So now it's get ready for onward trip again.  I don't think Eyemouth has wifi in the harbour, so unlikely I can update until we get to Arbroath.

Day 32, Passage 10 and Day33
Started off really well.  Left Hartlepool at 0800, with very gentle breeze, followed by sunshine.  Left same time as Acid Rain.  Magic sailing.   And the wind was in the right direcction!  It picked up a bit and we were absolutely romping aling - then it died for a short while.

sailing alongside Acid Rain

Northumberland coastline

However, when the wind returned it was from the wrong direction and it had picked up in strength.  By the time we reached Amble it was blowing a F4/F5.  The only interesting features en route where when we were almost here - beaches and countryside looked lovely, as well as Coquet Island.

Coquet Island

Perry reckons he saw a puffin (apparently there are puffins here) and a couple of seals.  When we arrived in the mina, tied up, then after tea went for a lk round the very small town.  Very quant and very clean! Lots of civic pride here, which has been missing in many of the other places we've visited.

Day 33
Dawn was calm

Dawn at Amble marina

but now it is wet and windy.  We will be going into town later on to buy a pie.  Two butchers here and their speciality is pies!  Yum, yum just what Bertie and I are looking forward to.  Weather forecast indicates that we may be here for a couple of days.  Still I think I can survive on pies for a while.....

Day 31
Surprise, surprise we are stuck again.  On the forecast for today we decided that it was just taking too much of a risk to arrive at an unknown port with a force 5 behind us.  If the forecast had said it was dropping, we would have ventured out, but...... anyway M & S saved the day.  Bought some yummy food and we had a bit of a feast.  Just what we needed.

Let's see what the weather has in store for us tomorrow - hopefully we can move on to Amble - fingers crossed...

Day 28 Passage 8, Day 29 Passage 9 and Day 30

Just before giving an account, I'd like to show a picture of George's boat Star.  We were so long in Grimsby that we made lots of friends, and George was our pontoon neighbour.

George's boat

Day 28, passage 8 Grimsby to Scarborough
Finally left Grimsby at 0545.  It was pretty cold and dull but at least it was only a F2/3.  Went round Spurn Head easily - no big shiipping, and basically ate our way to Scarborough on a very boring and uneventful journey.  Although the sun came out, it was pretty cold for most of the way and there was a haze on the coastline which affected visibility.  Entrace was (thank goodness) easy and we were guided by the Scarborough Harbour Master - although I had a bit of a problem with his accent!  Met up with another couple who are also sailing round and left Grimsby at the same time as us.  Although it was sunny when we arrived, it soon got cold, and Bertie was pretty fed up after 12 hours of sailing.  Somewhere we sailed over the Greenwich Meridian line!

Scarborough castle

Scarborough from the harbour

Day 29 Passage 9 Scarborough to Hartlepool
Started off with an absolutely perfect day.  Watched sea birds having fun in their formation flying displays.  Tried identifying the makes but I think I need to get a better book!

Leaving Scarboroough

Acid Rain leaving at the same time as us

view of Whitby

Whitby

More of Whitby castle

Then after 3 hours, wind picked up and sailing was still good.  Then wind picked up again, and again, and again....somewhat more lively than we wanted!  Two reefs, then took main down, and opened up furling jib to not much more than a pocket handkerchief - still surging and going too fast.....  We finally arrived at Hartlepool Marina in a Force 6 - not what the weather forecast had said at all!

On one side this monstrosity

and on the other a windfarm all while a force 5 is blowing!

After 7 and a quarter hourse we were pretty tired, but had to lock into the marina and we were then given a berth - which was occupied.  Although we tied up on a pontoon, the wind by then was so strong that we were continuously being blown off the pontoon and looked as though we were heeled over - despite the hundreds of ropes we used!  We did eventually move (with help) to another designated mooring, which was less fraught.

Day 30 - we are a month into this now, but today we are not moving!  Our next move will be to Amble, probably tomorrow, but we won't undertake it until the weather is a bit more settled.  Just opened Bertie's second bag of dog good.  I think he's getting fat.

Day 27
Change of plans.  Strong winds during the night so we decided no to leave this morning because the seas would still be very big.  Back to plan A, or it could be plan B, and we will be leaving tomorrow morning.  Very cold at the moment, but at least the wind has died down a bit.

Day 26
Well this is it, a decision has been made and we are off to Scarborough at 0530 tomorrow.  Weather is just about OK but I expect we will have some rather huge waves to contend with.  Our arrival time is the evening, and we are not sure whether we will be able to have a wifi connection, but I will try.  If not, the next posting will obviously be where there is a connection.  It has been very windy and cold here today, and we had hoped that the wind would at least die down a little so the waves would settle down.  However......

I will miss the people here at Humber Cruising Association, they have all been really kind and friendly.  I will particularly miss Jenny who will soon be going off on her Baltic ARC adventure.  I hope she is able to keep me informed of how she gets on.  It's a long way.

All the supplies have been restocked with some additional chocolate bars, water has been topped up and the diesel tank is full.  Next stop Scarborough.

Days 24 and 25
Not a lot happenning.  Wind still from wrong direction and too strong.  However, it looks as though there may be a slight lull in the strength of the wind on Tuesday, and if that's the case we will make every attempt to move on to Scarborough.  If not, it will be Wednesday as planned, when the wind definitely eases.  The only problem with moving Tuesday is that after so many gales, the wave heights may make the sail round to Scarborough a bit rough and lumpy, to say the least. It will be nice to move on, so keep fingers crossed for the next few days.

Day 23
Still looks as though Wednesday will be our departure day to Scarborough.  However it is still incredibly windy here at the moment and from the wrong direction, although very sunny.

Walked to Cleethorpes this morning, along the beach.  Very windy, but a lovely walk.  Stopped for a coffee where they allowed dogs, and they gave Bertie a supply of biscuits, which he loved.

Beach at Cleethorpes.  Sunny and blue skies, but if you look hard you can see the rough see and the poor chap standing with his coat collar wrapped roung his neck!

And yes, they have donkeys in Cleethorpes, but unfortunately because it was so cold, no takers.

Rest of day was taken up with shopping and chores.  The club does a book exchange, so I have now got something else to read!

Day 22
Bitterly cold again but at least we have had some sunshine.  Some good news on the horizon, we are getting a weather window which will allow us to move.  Only problem is that it is a week away.    Just did general housekeeping duties today ie cleaning and eating!

Day 21
Not a lot to say really, except that the wind is still too strong and in the wrong direction.  Checked the jet stream on the interenet, and it really is in the wrong position.  Could someone please do something about it?

Went into Grimsby via a nicer route, not so seedy and filthy.  Picked up timetables, maps etc. so it is likely that we may try going to Lincoln.  Maybe tomorrow.  No rush.  Looks as though we will be here for ever!

Caught up on washing - not that exciting really....

Day 20
Forecast not good for the next few days.  Wind will still be from the East or North East and we need a South or South Westerly.  Also as tide times are changing, it also becomes a problem to get out, because we need to arrive in Scarborough in the daylight.  So for a bit longer we are here. 

From where we are moored we can see this impressive Victorian water tower - which is often associated with Grimsby.  Unfortunately the whole area is closed to the public.

 

Today we decided to go on the bus to Hull and experience the "city of culture".  After what seemed like a lifetime on the bus, crossing the enormous Humber Bridge, nearly 2 hours later we arrived in Hull.  It was not exactly what we expected, but we had a roam round.  Obviously nowhere allowed dogs, so we had fish and chips outside in the freezing cold, and later a coffee, also outside in the freezing cold.  Very few outside restaurants and cafes - well done Hull!

Did manage to see Weeping Window, the cascade of ceramic poppies, which is on tour.

After loafing around for a bit longer and picking up a couple of cakes for the return journey, we sloped off down to the bus station (which together with the train station was very impressive) and got the bus back to Grimsby.  Forgot to add that the walk from the marina to the bus stop, was also pretty long.  Then I remembered we had run out of milk, so had to trudge back to Asda! By the time I got back to the boat a cup of tea was waiting (thank you Perry), but Bertie had completely passed out.

Not sure what is on for tomorrow.  Perhaps another exciting magical mystery tour....

Day 19
To be absolutely correct we are in Fish Dock Island and are guest visitors of the Humber Cruising Association (HCA) who own and maintain Meridian Quay Marina which was part of the old fish docks - and no, it doesn't smell of fish!

Fish dock

It was windy through the night and although it's calmer at the moment, wind will be picking up later and it will be from the wrong direction.  So we are going exploring.  We had a brief look at Grimsby yesterday, but it was in the fish dock area - not very inspiring, but today we are going to the Fishing Heritage Museum - centre of town.  As we did the Maritime Museum in Lowestoft, we should really do this one in Grimsby.

Also want to check out more of HCA as they are an intrepid bunch of sailors (must be the Viking in them) - no woozy little boats here - and they all do very high mileages.  We have spoken to some members already and they have some fantastic stories to tell.  One couple are getting ready to do the Baltic ARC - no way!

Just got back from the Fishing Heritage Museum - no dogs allowed, so came back home.  Sun is out so time to get on with some reading.