Buckie

Back to sea today (Monday).  Past train swing bridge then to a final, sea lock. Straight into Moray Forth with 'fresh' sailing conditions. About 10 miles out of Inverness I had a bit of an incident. Alexandra Louise was in her stride, with a good, following wind. I was at peace with the world and off down the hatch to pop the kettle on. Then a kind of mini hurricane turned up. Boat went over to the point where water started coming over the side, the mainsheet fitting broke away under the strain and, the final 'cherry on the top', was that the many flailing lines / ropes managed to capture me, like a fly in a web. In the style of my hero, Sir Robin, I decided that the tea could wait. It's amazing how, when you have no one to help, that you manage to work through stuff. Took me an hour to get going again. The harbourmaster, at Buckie, later told me that sudden high winds are a feature of the Inverness waters. They are caused by wind funnelling and speeding up through local hills. Anyway, as I got near Buckie the wind picked up again and, with waves and rocks I ended up being directed in by the Harbourmaster shouting left a bit, right a bit etc on my radio. Tiny entrance and relieved to get in. All, suddenly, calm again. 

Buckie is a small, commercial port. No other yachts here and I tied up to an old Pilot boat. A dodgy climb up the ladder to land. The town was desolate, a bit like one of those old zombie films. Just the odd bit of tumbleweed and a dog barking, in the distance. 

Found a Curry House where staff were overly attentive. As I was the only person in Buckie ( except the Harbourmaster) I had about 6 waiters all asking if they could help. I asked one of them if he could take my 'flippin' boat to Portsmouth. He said "yes, thankyou sir" and quickly got me 2 popperdoms (and some onion chutney). Despite the food being served with the equivalent of a fanfare ( there you are sir, with big smiles, open hands, gently backing away, bowing etc) it was awful. I wasnt sure whether or not they were taking the mick. "How was your food, sir ?". Difficult to answer when you are choking. God only knows what meat it was. Maybe I get more fussy when Im knackered. Place was called The Bengal Brasserie. Here's a pic of their 'tip generating' finale. They weren't to know that what I really wanted was apple fritters with ice cream ( like the old days), a copy of tomorrow's weather forecast and a big hug with "there, there Alan. It'll be all right". 

When I got back at 10pm, I couldn't get on board. Had to go to the fish loading factory and enlist some help to pull the massive chain that secured the pilot boat to the jetty. When it was close enough I jumped. What a performance. 

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Im heading for the eastern edge of Scotland. Mentally, I shall be pleased to turn the corner and start heading south. Just hope there's some 'summer left' for when I get back down the coast. Today's post delay due to no wi fi signal, 'down here' in the depths of the harbour.