Summer is here

Summer seems to be here now. Solid sunshine for the past week and everything is green.
Boats all up and running and getting busier after a very early Easter.
Problem with the generator on the Jacobite Spirit last week which put her off the run for a few days but the Jacobite Legend took over seamlessly. Generator now fixed.
Crews all beavering away keeping our passengers happy.
Loch Ness is looking good with nice calm days on the water. The level is down a little as it has been so dry. No reported sightings of Nessie but we keep looking.
There is a new lifeboat service on Loch Ness. This is now operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and have taken over from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency who have given us such a great serviceover the years. As the RNLI has just started on the loch, Jacobite has chosen them for their designated charity for 2008 and will run a number of fund raising events to raise money for this deserving cause. Later this summer we are having an evening on the Jacobite Queen with a pirate theme (original eh!) as the first of our fund raising events. More on this in the future.
One of our skippers is in mourning now as Glasgow Rangers, his football team, lost in the final of the UEFA Cup but they still have a few titles to chase yet so he is keeping his fingers crossed. One of our other skippers is off to the International Wine Fair in London next week for a few days. We wonder if we will ever see him again!
Jennifer, our office manager, or damager, depending on the mood she is in, has stopped smoking at last and has now been off the dreaded weed for two weeks. We are proud of her and considering the effort it must be taking she is still surprisingly calm. Off to sell some tickets now on this beautiful sunny day.

Freda's Trek in the Andes - Day 5

We woke up to the clouds and potential rain, so all wet weather gear that we had taken half way across the world was potentially going to be used. This was our first real trek into the snow and the horses really looked after us.
Back down to Pungini hot springs and we waited for Max our driver to come and get us out. Only the three Invernessians were leaving but according to Audrey it was much better leaving as the showers and toilet were definatedly suspect!! I never looked.

Freda's Trek in the Andes - Day 4

Another scenic ride through the forests and valleys. Again beautiful weather. Camped at a lake side and this is where too much alcohol was consumed as it was my last night.......no details for the blog!!
Chicken for tea, but they were not very fat chickens.