I’m sure this will disappoint some of you, but it’s not for the reason you may think.
From tomorrow, Kudu will have a guest on board until Tuesday. I had decided a while ago to take a friend for a trip down the Caledonian Canal. Not because I needed help, not because I couldn’t hack it any more, but because it’s an inland leg of the trip, there’s loads of pubs (apparently) and I haven’t seen a single one of my old friends since I set off in May.
Just over two weeks ago I asked Rob Graham, a good friend, ex housemate and colleague, and co adventurer, if he would like to join me on the Caley leg. He’s just getting in to sailing himself having recently completed a competent crew weekend, so he jumped at the chance.
I thought two weeks would give me plenty of time to get to Inverness, but oh how the weather had other plans.
Since Rob had already booked his flight to Inverness, I couldn’t exactly tell him to cancel the whole thing because I’m still in coastal waters, so I’m meeting him here in Stonehaven tomorrow, which is the reason I didn’t leave this morning.
I’m not going to lie about it, I’m seriously looking forward to going for a beer with my old mate with whom I’ve shared many an adventure. We’ve snow holed in the alps, snow coffined on Ben Nevis (was supposed to be a snow hole but we couldn’t get through the wind slab), wild camped on islands, and he was crew when I made an almighty cock up with my first boat, thus parking her in a field for a month.
Do I think I’m losing anything by taking on crew for a few days? No. I’ve proven to myself what I set out to do, I’ve got this far, and when he gets off (likely before the caley) I’ve still got a long way to go. I haven’t invited him because I failed in anyway, except for maybe missing friends a little too much. Of course I’ve met a lot of great people and made new friends on my way around, but 4 months is a long time to not see somebody you haven’t known for just a few weeks or minutes. All I can say is, it’s a shame he’s not a girl.
What do the jury think? 
Oh, while I’m here, and since his boss, Daniel, is a friend too, I’ll mention his company. If you’re in the legal profession and have continued professional development to contend with, check out cpdcast.com
I think I’m worried about the “it’s a shame he’s not a girl comment” :-O
So you aren’t going all the way round but are taking the shortcut, like the other Corribee sailors.
That’s a pity but understandable.
Keep going, you are a release from my work. Only 6 years to go then once the kids have finished uni I’m free to do something similar but in a Pandora.
Justin
I can’t afford to in both time and money. I need to finish up for the winter and get a job. That, and it’s far too late in the year to go up there.
I see no problem with sharing the experience
as for cutting through the canal……
I am making no promises about going around the top either
You could waste weeks waiting for the right weather window
Going through the canal will be a great experience not to be missed
well done
Dylan keepturningleft
Hiya Nathan The is nothing wrong in taking on a crew member at all.
There was nothing in your initial venture which stated that you had to or were going to sail single handed without help or any extra crew.
Enjoy the company and have a great time.
Best wishes David
ps: Tell him not to write on my charts.
Yes, methinks you worry too much! Who are you doing this for? You’re your own sponsor, right? Just keep your sponsor happy!
As for the ’shame he’s not a girl comment’, completely understandable, we all know women make better sailors!
I think you are both very brave boys to voluntarily commit to spend 2 weeks living in a space not much bigger than a large wardrobe! I’m sure you’ll be in the canal before a fortnight is out.
The fact that you’ve actually gone out and done something most people only dream about is the important bit, doesn’t really matter whether you’re alone or have company for some, or all of the trip. It’s your adventure, we’re just the spectators.
Do this for what YOU want out of it Nathan. You have earned a lot of respect from people with your “get on with it” attitude – whether you have company for part of the journey is irrelevant
Many of us “spectators” wish we had the opportunity to be in your shoes. Enjoy it.
PS – Get part 16 up……. I need a fix
QUOTE: ” I’m sure this will disappoint some of you . . . ”
Not a bit of it.
You see, we are all on your side but I hope you don’t take ‘Ken’ too literally when he says the “you will be ‘in’ the canal before a fortnight”! 
Take care . . . watch-keeping eh? That will be a novel experience on Kudu for you.
QUOTE: ” I’m sure this will disappoint some of you . . . ”
Like the others posters have said it is entirely up to you. I will only be disappointed if you don’t keep us in cyberspace updated with your adventures.
Vince.
Nathan, there’s no problem at all with crew (you know well enough I offered to crew a while back when you said you were unsure about some of the longer hops you’ve been doing recently) – it’s your trip by your rules and to hell with anyone who thinks otherwise!
Will you still be updating this blog while you’ve got company or is this just a cure for loneliness?
In no way am I criticising the route through the canal. I was selfishly thinking that I’d like to see you post about the coastal journey around Scotland.
Dylan’s point about weather windows and your’s about the inconvenient need for a job are totally valid.
Enjoy the adventure where-ever and with whom-ever you choose to journey.
PS have you read A J Mackinnon’s “The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow” published by Seafarer Books. It is brilliant. It’s an account of Sandy Mackinnon’s voyage from N Wales to the Black SEa in a Mirror dinghy! Beautifully written.
Well done and good luck
Justin
Just enjoy yourself, you have earned it. Maybe even do a few vids at the same time.
Take care