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Day 68 Fort William to Gairlochy Bottom Lock (900 miles completed!)

 

After a relaxing rest day yesterday (where we visited Corpach Sea Lock and a shipwreck in Caol) today started at the drop off point of Morrisons at Fort William (very picturesque I know!) In the background we could see Ben Nevis.

        

  


This shipwreck is the rusting remains of a shipping vessel called MV Dayspring, built in 1975, used as a fishing  boat, trawling the North sea to catch herring and mackerel. It was then moved to Northern Ireland to continue fishing when the boat's skipper retired and was renamed 'Golden Harvest'. In the early 2000's it was returned to Scotland and moored near Kinlochleven, with the aim of being converted into a floating sea food restaurant. This never happened and in 2009 it was retired and moved to Loch Linnhe, where some repairs were started. In December 2011, a huge storm tore Golden Harvest from its mooring and the local coastguard helped control the landing of the ship on the beach, where it has remained between Corpach and Caol villages. 


     

This morning, Garry walked through the outskirts of Fort William, Inverlochy and Caol and joined the Caledonian Canal downstream of  Neptune's Staircase, where me and Alfie joined him. 

An intricate arrangement of 8 lochs to enable boats to move through 64 feet (10 metres) of gradient   It takes about one and a half hours to move through them all. There was a group of 4 large yachts moving through as we arrived.

      

 

The weather was intermittently sunny and showery. Alfie and I took respite in a cafe along Neptune's staircase on the return trip. 



The rest of the walk was along a well maintained cycle path/ tow path with views across left and right to the mountains beyond. Me and Alfie joined Garry for the final mile of the walk back to Gairlochy Bottom Lock.

    

                                              


On the way back to the hotel in Fort William, we called in at a monument to fallen soldiers from the World War II.


A shorter easier walk of 9.6 miles today but Garry and Alfie still managed an afternoon nap!

             










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