We started today with great excitement as we fully entered the Caledonian Canal, leaving behind the sea and venturing into fresh waters.
This marked what we believe to be the first time a Wetwheels vessel has traveled on fresh water. The shift resulted in slightly less buoyancy, but it wasn’t significant enough to affect our journey.
Our first major milestone was passing through Gairlochy, the deepest lock on the system, which we shared with two yachts. Once through, the boat’s epic Suzuki engines roared to life as we crossed Loch Lochy.
Our next stop was Laggan Lock, where we took a moment to thank Barry from Scottish Canals and the team at The Eagle Barge Inn for their invaluable help the previous day.
We then proceeded up Laggan Avenue, where the bridge was already swung open in anticipation of our arrival, making for a smooth passage to Aberchalder Swing Bridge.
As we continued, we passed through Loch Oich, the highest point of the canal. This moment was particularly special, knowing we were at the pinnacle of our journey through this historic waterway.
Continuing on, we navigated through Cullochy Lock and Kytra Lock, the latter being, in my opinion, the most beautiful on the system. Here, James raised a metaphorical glass to Linda, who served as the Lock Keeper for many years and is fondly remembered.
As we arrived at the top of Fort Augustus, we were met by our shore team, who were rather wet from the rain.
Knowing we could only moor in a specific area at the bottom of the locks, a scouting party was sent to assess access. Fortunately, some Caley Cruisers hire boats were willing to move pontoons if needed. In the end, as other boats left to go up the locks, there was minimal shuffling required to secure our position.
After the lock keepers finished their lunch, we were called to enter the top chamber. We made a slow descent to our evening mooring place before returning to our motor homes, parked in the newly created parking spaces at the top—a fantastic addition to the area.
Our evening entertainment consisted of doing laundry and watching the rain, a fitting end to a day filled with adventure and new experiences.