To Whitehills

Some harbours have been brilliant in their support for our fund-raising efforts, and some not so. We had a big discount on our berthing fees at Eyemouth, and at Arbroath, and when we entered Whitehills harbour late this afternoon the harbour master said immediately that he could see we were sailing for charity and so the charge would be zero! It is so gratifying to get such support! Sadly, when we left Peterhead this morning the marina there ‘couldn’t do anything for us’. Hmmph!

We left Peterhead in a rather choppy sea as we rounded Rattray Head about 3 miles offshore to stay away from the worst of the over-falls, It was still a very uncomfortable sea though, lots of small but near vertical waves coming at all sorts of angles and the boat just wallowed along slowly inching its way around the Head. Once past Fraserborough things began to improve though and we started to enjoy more of the Moray Firth coastline which is very similar to that of North Wales – green vegetation on hilltops leading to rocky cliffs and small villages at the water’s edge. We put in to Whitehills, and very pretty harbour, at about 1800 and dined out at the local pub for a change. Tomorrow Inverness beckons.

Today's joke:

 Late one foggy night two boaters collide head on while trying to navigate a narrow inlet channel. Both their boats were damaged, disabled and slowly sinking.

As they each watched their boats slowly slip away beneath them, the first boater said " You know, this is a sign that we should never take life for granted and that we should live it to the fullest".

"You are right," said the other boater as he opened a cooler and pulled out a bottle of bourbon whisky. Let's drink to living well for the rest of our lives.

The first boater took the bottle and, after a big swig, handed it back to the other boater who in turn quickly threw it into the river.

More than a little surprised the first boater exclaimed " You didn't take a drink!?"

"Naw", said the other boater "I think I'll just wait for the Coast Guard to show up."

Rob looks on, with Moray Firth coastline in the background

Blue Star in Whitehills harbour