We’re booked in to start our transit of the canal for 9am, so a relatively leisurely start, giving time to have a look at a huge cruise boat coming out… she barely fits…

…and then tea, coffee and a shower…not so. At 8.30 the lock master comes along to say that we are expected and can we please join 3 other boats already in the lock. John and Yee Tak almost break into a trot to get back on board, and then a less than leisurely few minutes getting thge right ropes, fenders etc ready for the deep locks ahead.

The first one (the sea lock) is easy…

However, ahead of us is the famous Neptune’s Staircase. A flight of 7 locks…all of them deep. There are 4 boats going through, a couple of very big, but skittish racing yachts which move around a lot in the turbulent waters of the locks when the sluice gates open.

With three of us ashore tending ropes, we look on a bit too smugly at how well Heydays behaves…perhaps we’ll get our come-uppance!

The back drop to the locks and the whole canal is stunning. I know I’ve used that word a lot, but I’m in danger of running out of superlatives…

We’re through and then cruise gently along the canal past a couple of swing bridges, while a train and cars patiently (we assume) wait for our little flotilla to pass.

We pass our final lock for today with the slightly confusing name of Gairlochy Lock. There is a quiet pontoon (with electricity for the fridge) and we’re tied up and hearing nothing but birdsong against the background of snowy mountains…

This is such an amazing place, not a sound save for birds and the occasional chuckle of water round the stern. We decide to stay for the night.

Postscript: One of the boats we have been in company with today is called Andiamo, a Jeanneau 32. They approach to come behind us on the pontoon, and we take their lines and generally help. We introduce ourselves and as always have to spell out Yee Tak’s name. “She’s from Hong Kong” we explain. “Oh” says Maureen (partner Ian) “I was born in Hong Kong and left in 1971 when I was 14”. What a coincidence… One thing leads to another and we invite them round for early evening drinks. Things then get even weirder… It turns out that Maureen and Yee Tak both went to the same school in HK (St Paul’s) and were both in the same year (although different classes). The rest of us watch on as bystanders at a school reunion, as they discuss the various teachers and nuns they had the fortune (or sometimes misfortune) to be taught by. It was lovely watching them reminisce back down to their schoolgirl days…