Just a quick post today. We completed the voyage across the Minch without incident. We were first on the ferry and as it’s a Ro-Ro, first off. I spent three years plodding up and down these waters three or four times a year and cannot recall the sea being so calm. A wonderful crossing.
Cal Mac were excellent. Sailed on time, arrived early, and provided a breakfast of Motorway standard at half motorway prices. The coffee was better than Starbucks. I’ll sail back with Cal Mac….Not that I have much choice.
I ought to have stopped in Stornoway but got muddled up finding my way out…..all six lane super highways here…It’s worse than negotiating the Périphérique round Paris. I’ll go back down tomorrow as I need maps, food, diesel and petrol for the gen set. I can last in this weather on the solar panel but I’m not expecting this weather to last and neither are the weather guessers.
I have good internet here and phone but I’m parked just outside Stornoway on a convenient but expensive and unprepossessing site. I suspect I may go AWOL for several days but as this blog is more a diary than anything else I’ll just stack them all up and post as and when I can.
Alf hasn’t been on a boat before but was very impressed. He enjoyed his crossing and I met a nice chap with a Labrador who held mine while I had breakfast. Then I held his while he went for a coffee. Cal Mac are dog friendly but not excessively so. They have a couple of areas with no windows. I was going to rephrase this paragraph but bugger it.
Have a good week.
Looks like a heavenly place Adrian. I'm sure you'll love every moment.
ReplyDeleteGood to know there are friendly folk around; holding each others during breakfast.
Keith, it has all the makings of a great place. Folk live and work here. The Inner Hebrides are all pottery shops and catch penny tourist traps.
DeleteGlad you didn't rewrite that para, gave me such a chuckle. You were very kind to hold his much bigger one! Enough nonsense! Looks like a perfect day for a sea voyage. Enjoy your stay!
ReplyDeletePauline, it made me chuckle and I wrote it.
DeleteLooks like a wonderful place Adrian? I'm looking forward to reading your future posts, I'm sure you'll have some interesting encounters to report on!
ReplyDeleteI hope you've made a date with your new found 'friend' for the return crossing? It would be a shame for both of you not to have something to hold on to, especially as you've only just made friends!...[;o)
Trevor, I was remiss in not exchanging phone numbers with him.
ReplyDeleteLike most places it's a mix. Wild and wonderful and characterless new housing built pretty well without any obvious planning. The wild and wonderful is worth the ribbon development.
The crofting system means that houses are built on the basis of a croft house to a croft. When the old one is replaced there are two houses on the croft (except one is no longer a croft house!). It's complicated. As crofts are long ribbons usually bisected by the township road ribbon development is the inevitable norm.
DeleteAye I understand that fine. Not a bit of it.
DeleteThe buggers are just ruining my tourist appreciation of a wonderful landscape. How many folk croft now. I would but am far too old.
I like your diary Adrian, so I travel with you :))
ReplyDeleteThe sea has a lovely blue.
A hug.
Laura, it won't last....the rains will come.
DeleteLooks like the light is very good, the blues are great!
ReplyDeleteMaria, I struggle with colour. If you say blue is good then I'll take your word for it.
ReplyDelete