Blogs from Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe
Day minus 1 - farewell by my wonderful team mates
Published: May 25th 2012Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Midlothian » Edinburgh
May 25th 2012
Not surprising my wonderful team mates managed to take me by surprise earlier today....when they decorated my desk with balloons, banners and confetti and a birthday cake with a picture of Machu Picchu on it...while I was in a meeting! It was very thoughtful of them (to share on the big occasion 9 days ahead of the actual big day....it genuinely felt great, which just proves the actual turning 40 part is not the issue, it is simply all been in my head....what a surprise!!!!! Thanks Eileen for the daily reminders to the rest of the team to ensure they delivered in your absence, they certainly deserve top marks for effort and delivery on the day! A big thank you to everyone who has sent cards & emails wishing me well on the trip, hopefully you ... read more
May 25th 2012
Our last day on the isles was spent in a very lazy fashion, I think our engines had switched off because every hill we rode up seemed like Everest. However we managed to ride two laps of the island, a whopping 20 miles. On our first lap we saw two chough's flying across us and on our second lap we saw two corncrakes having a bit of a barney on the road. We managed to take some good photos of these. The bays were in great form with the sun being warm and luxurious. The sand was golden and the sea turquoise with craggy rock outcrops making a spectacle. It was the first time we have really been able to relax and we took advantage of being able to lie down listening to the gentle waves ... read more
May 24th 2012
Bright, clear day again as we set off on ’MV Lord of the Isles’ to Colonsay, where we are also to visit Oronsay on foot as we did with Erraid yesterday. Due to the ferry timetable we will stay on the island until tomorrow night. I do not think this large ferry will pay for itself today since there are only four cars a small lorry, two bicycles and a handful of foot passengers. We must almost equal the crew. The journey goes down by Kerrera, Seil, Easdale and Luing islands, which are interesting to see from another angle. The ferry on its outward leg goes through the Great Race at the Gulf of Corryvreckan with its turbulent water and dangerous tidal streams. Even a boat of this size was being thrown about needing constant steering ... read more
May 23rd 2012
This weather is suiting us fine and could not be bettered on a good summer's day. We set off for Iona and were in Fionnphort by 9am ready for the Calmac ferry at 9.45. We only had 3/4hr so rode up to the Abbey and had a quick look around this ancient building and burial ground old Scottish Kings before heading off for our 40'th island Erraid. We went 3 miles down a rough road which turned into a track and then worse with boulders and sand etc. Bill gave up part way and walked whilst I persevered with the odd tumble when my cleats would not release from my pedals. We then had to walk across the sands to the island since there is no road, or bridge, and the only access is to walk ... read more
tobermory isle of mull to skye
Published: May 22nd 2012Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » The Highlands
May 22nd 2012
The next night we had lovely oysters and good fish. We went to the oyster bar.We spent some time looking in the shops which appeared as tiny but were filled with every kind of object that you could need. There was a soap making shop, a bakery, a kind of ironmongers, a coop and lots of little gift shops. The bakery did good cakes and coffee. Next morning we left Tobermory about 10 am after Alan had walked the dog. Mull has a population of white-tailed eagels, we did see a large wing -spanned bird, but don't think it was one of those. The walk to the lighthouse above the town was very pretty, another haven for wild flowers, the tiny delicate harebells of Scotland, that I remember from my childhood, white wild garlic, the smell ... read more
May 22nd 2012
Yesterday we went into Tobermory for a meal and walked into the MacDonald Arms only to be met by Rob, whose house we stayed on in Portree, Skye. He had been skippering a boat with a group of young people all week. They were from all walks of life and had been observing and recording dolphins and whales in the Western Isles for statistical purposes. Amongst the team was a young lady from Low Moor, Clitheroe, who is an ecologist. It certainly is a small world. We also met a nice young American man whose base is in Washington DC, but appears to travel the world working out of his rucksack advising on charity and trustee projects etc. An interesting life I suppose but I am sure it will get lonely at times. We were away ... read more
May 21st 2012
Making our way down into Oban on the cycleway from Dunbeg was a real treat, smooth tarmac and brilliant sunshine. Is this to be the weather pattern for our last week? We hope so as we board the very busy ferry to Mull with everyone scrambling for a seat on the outer top deck, a phenomenon rarely seen during this last three weeks. Bill is familiar with Mull, having visited here for the last 30 years, so I guess I am down for a guided tour of every nook and cranny. By the way, Bill has got his shorts on and already three girls have fainted in a swoon. It is a big island so,we had better get cracking. Duart Castle was a nice place to settle on the lawn with a coffee and fresh scone. ... read more
May 20th 2012
A day off today since we are travelling to Oban to continue our visit to the remaining Inner Hebrides, missed on the way North due to the Ferry Timetable. We went to see the film “Whisky Galore” last night which was based on the story of the SS Politician, which went down off Eriskay Island in 1941, which is just above Barra and across the sound. The ship hit the rocks full of whisky but but just before it went down the locals salvaged several hundred crates of whisky and hid them from the authorities who chased them down with limited success. The film stars notables such as James Robertson Justice and Gordon Jackson, is quite humorous and was filmed in Castlebay on the south of Barra. The town has has changed a bit with more ... read more
May 19th 2012
It seems to have been a pattern in this trip that the wind is on the nose, so 14knots from the North East seemed quite normal! At first it was fairly moderate, but did become a bit rougher, we carried on topos 54 55 41, 005 33 866 by 11.30 am. It does seem strange to watch those northerly numbers getting larger, for so many years, they always got smaller. Also to be able to get weather forecasts, easily .and almost instantly, to be able to buy things in shops everywhere. and finally to get things done on the boat, in a stress free way.We soon passed Sanda Island, and then Aisla Craig, as we approached the land the sea became calmer, and finally when we got to Campbletown loch the sea was just covered in ... read more
May 19th 2012
13th May. We drove our campervan up to Inverkip, a good journey but as we got closer to Scotland it became more and more overcast, and the final hour of the journey was in heavy rain. In fact it was raining so much we could not carry everything down to the boat! The boat was fine, and we were grateful to Katrina and Colin who had been keeping an eye on it. The wind roared up to 50 knots, the boat strained against its'ropes and we decided to dress up warmly and go to the chartroom restaurant. A very good meal, but we were back on the boat by 8.30pm, in spite of the rain, still very bright outside, it is light so late, and so early. Next day we saw Katrina and Colin, did a ... read more
