Tiree. Hebrides

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Today we woke up to bright sunshine once again and had a very good leisurely breakfast in our Tigh 'na ' Mara guest house run by Paula, an 'incumden' originally from Carnforth. It was still quite cool and breezy as I walked the village of Aranagour to buy some Lypsil for Bill's chapped lips. I went to the Post Office and gift shop to kill time until the store openened at 10am. The Petrol Station also opened at 9.30 for its two hour stint on four days a week and saw the rush of four cars dash in for fuel. We joined the ferry at 11am for its one hour journey to Tiree. We could see darker clouds to the South and East, which slowly came over Tiree as we landed, making it much cooler but so far thankfully dry. On the boat we met three Rotarians from Kerrimuir, Angus, who were on a five day fishing trip to Tiree. The first thing was to find the Scarinish Hotel,and find some food to warm us up, while the few splashes of rain passed over. More clothes were put on to keep out the wind and off we went to recce our hostel for the night

Wait as we might the rain did not cease whilst in the hotel and we were forced to venture outside after putting on more clothes. Whilst it was not raining hard it was the wind which made it so. Even in winter at home in Lancashire I am not sure that I have been forced to wear so many layers to keep warm. Outside the hotel we met another couple from Sheffield on hired bikes who told us that the hostel was very good and modern, which was a great relief since we were prepared to book into a B&B if it was Gordon Brown (dour and miserable). We collected provisions from the Co-op and set off to find the Millhouse Hostel at Cornaig in the NE corner of the island. The report was correct and we unloaded our kit and prepared for a leisurely afternoon waiting for the weather to improve. Unfortunately the heating was not on and we were at the point of shaking in our shoes when the warden arrived at 5.30 and put on the heating, which unfortunately turned off at 7pm, so cold again. We are now avid aficionados of Co-Op pre packed meal deals and Muller Rice. Bring on the carbos. Hoping for better weather tomorrow so that we can explore the island, which is reputed to be a jewel in the crown of the Hebrides. We will see. We had a young lady doctor join us in the hostel, called Marianne, who had just returned from a stint working for Medecin Sans Frontier in Pakistan until it got too dangerous. What a brave lady. She had travelled the world and seen much. I stand in awe.
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