More travel woes

[limey]

The background info: there are two ferry routes to my island home. Ardrossan to Brodick, the main route, with two boats (the Caledonian Isles, and the Isle of Arran) operating in the summer and a choice of berths at the mainland end, the regular berth and the Irish berth. So lots of redundancy there in case of problems. Clainaig-Lochranza is the other route, about 100 miles of scenic roads further north.
The recommended service life of the boats for this type of run is 25 years, so I'm told.
The Caley Isles is now 25 years old, and the Isle of Arran is 35 years old.
A few weeks ago the Irish berth was declared unfit for use.
Last week, just after we set off worry Fanny in a jaunt to England, an unusually heavy load damaged the on and off ramps to the Caley Isles. One ramp has now been fixed but as vehicles have to turn on the deck to drive off the sailings are for cars and foot passengers only. It was planned to take Caley Isles to dry dock to fix the other ramp.
Then the MV Isle of Arran broke down in the regular berth at Ardrossan. So Caley Isles had to go to Gourock as the port of refuge on the mainland.
They've moved MV Isle of Arran, sent her for repairs, so Caley Isles is still in service taking cars and foot passengers only.
And we're on the mainland with Fanny. Meant to get home yesterday but instead have taken a 100 mile detour in an effort to get to Claonaig and home. Spent an extra night away. Have had to cancel some work.
And now the car has a flat tyre.


Sent by magick