Decisions. Decisions B-)

Wednesday and awoke to another sparkling day. Because of the hold up yesterday our timetable is in need of a tweak. The ship's hotel manager (a really nice fella called Brian who has a passing resemblance to golfer, Colin Montgomerie and works very hard to keep everybody happy) advises that we have two options. Stay on board till Laggan then a coach and train to the Glen Finnan viaduct and monument or stay on board, turning at Banavie and return toLaggan to pick up people from coach. A real dilemma as I came to do the canal but fancy the train ride. In the end I stayed on board and Ady went on the coach.
But to begin at the beginning. Excellent kipper for breakfast-a real treat-especially as we sat with Pat (a lovely lady) and Ken (no comment) Archer (pictured above) who celebrate 48 years married today. Congratulations,especially to Pat, who must be a most saintly soul and deserving of all our sympathy.

Left Fort Augustus along the canal to Loch Oich, the Laggan corridor which is gorgeous dropped the nuisances at Laggan Lock then across Loch Lochy turning sadly before reaching Banavie. The  trip curtailed because the bridge at Fort Augustus was busted. The joys of boating....mind you if it's  broken on the way back real fun will ensue.
(Photoshere and elsewhere on this trip are all from my phone as facilities to put camera shots on blog don't exist here. Will stick them on asap.)

Enjoyed a quiet beer in the ship 's bar manned by the excellent Gordon. Ken nearly bought me a drink but recovered his senses in time to avoid so doing. The sun is really quite warm as we pass Ben Nevis albeit the top is shrouded in mist. Recrossing  Loch  Lochy  (how unimaginative is that for a name? It's  like calling Ben Nevis "Mount Mounty ") I am looking out for the others as instructed by the tannoy . Very good team building amongst the passengers I thought but apparently he said "otters"!
The coach returned and lunch was served (Chicken Caesar salad-vg) and Adrian explained how because of a slight hiccough he had missed the train (after a 500 quid yomp )and along with others had grabbed a cab. Still managed to see the viaduct and the monument.

  

Left Laggan and carried on to Kyrtra lock for the night. Can't go any further because the waterways people pack up at 4 during the Winter.

A less reasonable man than myself might say well as their ****ing bridge threw us out of kilter the least they could do was half hour overtime to get us through to Fort Augustus but I am a very reasonable man.

And despite no pub Kyrta is a beautiful place to stop and in my opinion everyone is drinking far tooooo much anyway. Went for a walkabout and took a few photos including the interesting gear once used for opening the lock paddles and a Notice that suggests Camping and Defecation is a local pursuit. Hey ho its good we're not all the same. I've heard of loitering within tent but blimey ! A small tincture before dinner to keep out the cold would seem to be in order.