On 22 June 2003 we left Peterhead on a grey wet morning, having sold Tom's car the previous evening. The house was already rented out and we were "free" at last. Surely the weather would improve....

The idea was to sail our old cruising grounds on the west coast of Scotland for a month or so before heading south. This would act as a shakedown cruise where we find any problems and fix them before we get too far. (This worked well in that we managed to break a few things including the genoa track and a fuel pipe on the engine and fix them without too much fuss.) It also gave us a chance to meet up with friends and family and have a few more farewell drinks!

Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal.

After overnight stops at Buckie and Inverness, we made our way through the Caledonian Canal in unbelievably sunny and warm weather. This good weather kept up for most of July as we visited our old haunts on the west coast. We spent a week or so just chilling out and then headed north around Skye, fitting in a night sail to try out our lights and instruments.

Portree, Skye.

Sunset from our mooring at Arisaig, near Mallaig.

When in Tobermory we not only met Tony and Lisa from Peterhead on their boat "Dreamcatcher 2" but also Tristan on "Rival Lady", just arrived from the Azores, having been away for 3 years in the Caribbean! Needless to say, we retired to the snug in the "Mishnish" for the day, followed by a curry.

A day in "The Mishnish", Tobermory.

We met Tony and Lisa again later in the month at Oban. They suggested that we seemed more fond of going away parties than actually going away! Spurred on, we finally headed south towards Ireland ...

On Kerrera, looking towards Oban.

Sunset over the Outer Hebrides.

We'll miss Scotland while we're away. It's a beautiful country and a great place to sail.

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