Yesterday was a glorious day we were able to see so much when it is not raining and it puts you in a better frame of mind. It is overcast this morning as I look out over the yachts moored in the Caledonia Canal, so lovely and peaceful. This little Yacht Club is hidden away behind houses and with permission only five vehicles can wild camp overnight with the luxury of their facilities, hot shower, toilet and kitchen. There are people living of their yachts.

Here’s hoping we have a beautiful sunny day in the Isle of Skye. We were quite naughty by using their water to fill our tank and bottles, the only thing we couldn’t do was a chemical waste dump as they closed that facility.

At one point when we were walking along the canal looking at the locks while watching a yacht coming through from Loch Linnhe we noticed a couple taking photos of our motorhome. Thinking they were members and going to report us Richard quickly approached them first only to find out they were interested in buying a motorhome and liked ours. A lovely retired professional couple Karen and Ken from South Belfast, we talked for ages and exchanged email addresses for when we leave the UK in September.

After meeting another Aussie couple yesterday who thought they could wild camp next to us last night we decided to take their advice and not drive to Mallaig to catch the car ferry to the Isle of Skye. The Tourist Information Centre said it was better to go by the connecting bridge and drive round the two circular roads, which is what they will be doing today after their steam train ride.

With a very late start we headed back to A82 with the lovely views of the mountains, pine forests and woodlands where we crossed the River Lochy at Spean Bridge to stop about a mile from Spean Bridge village by B8004 junction to take a photo of the Commando Memorial a statue of three Scottish soldiers. The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II, it overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle. Funny enough we caught up with Karen and Ken also at the memorial site wanting to know if we were following them and if we would exchange their motorbike for our motorhome to try for a couple of days. We had a good laugh and we on our way with the usual views cattle and sheep grazing in the marshlands and of course the roadworks as we wind our way up and down through the Glen with magnificent views of the towering mountains. Love the gorgeous dollhouse cottages all painted white with black roof and frames.

Driving high up looking down at Loch Lochy, the winding road is very busy lots of traffic either going to Inverness or Isle of Skye. The scenery is so beautiful streams of water cascading down the mountains, as we cross many small road bridges passing by Loch Oich and crossing the other side with glimpses of Loch Oich through the trees and bushes and the next stage of the Caledonia Canal Locks. Driving through the woodlands and mountain ranges to the very busy town of Fort Augustus crossing the last stage of the Caledonia Canal Locks. Would have loved to stay a while but the traffic and crowds of tourists was unbelievable hopefully when we come back from Skye we can stop to find parking. This is where Loch Ness starts so everyone wants to see the locks and find the Loch Ness monster.

Pity there are tall trees and bushes by the roadside of all the loch’s at the moment we have glimpses of Loch Ness till we have a better view by stopping for lunch. Somehow we missed the sharp left-hand turn at Invermoriston to take us to Skye and we ended up still driving along Loch Ness till I saw the Urquhart Castle where we were nearly wiped of the map by a silly driver who just pulled out onto the winding road. Lucky Richard saw what was happening and tooted the horn as the driver never saw us and would have kept on driving. Nothing like getting the adrenalin going as we weave our way back to Invermoriston. At least on this road it is quite no motorhomes, caravans or semi-trucks are pounding down on us, just a leisurely drive going inland across Scotland through the Glen Moriston weaving alongside the River Moriston by B&B’s, chalets, hotels, hostels, camping and caravan sites there is always a place to stay the night in Scotland.

Stopped for a rest at Dundreggan Dam on River Moriston passing a new big fish hatchery being built, before stopping again at Cluanie Dam. The dams are important by when you drive round the side of Loch Cluanie the water level has dropped dramatically the shoreline looks so barren. The loch goes to being a river, then a stream and lastly a trickle through the marshlands.

Going through Glen Shiel and the Five Sisters Mountains you feel as though the mountains are swallowing you up being so high and close as we wind through the valley it is raining but looking ahead where the range is wider and mountains smaller there is sunshine. Coming through and round Loch Duich is the little town of Inverinate where we continue round the edge of the lake till we see Eilean Nonan a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet, Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. The castle was founded in the thirteenth century, and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan Macrae. In the early eighteenth century, the Mackenzies' involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle's destruction by government ships. Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap's twentieth-century reconstruction of the ruins produced the present buildings. Too many coaches and carpark is full might go there after seeing the Isle of Skye.

Time is marching on it is late afternoon we are parked by Loch Alsh in view of the Skye Bridge and the Isle of Skye it is raining and we decide to wild camp here at Kyle of Lochalsh. The pier doesn’t look inviting and with directions from a local we find a secluded carpark near the Swimming Pool Leisure Centre. Being a senior Richard enjoyed a relaxing swim and sauna to wind down after driving all day at “Happy Hour” time before retiring for the evening.