We spent a superbly quiet night on the Pontoons at Salen. There was not a breath of wind and we so we were expecting a long motorized slog down Loch Sunart. But just as we left the pontoon the wind started to blow from the east. Perfect. Up went the sails but within seconds the Loch returned to its flat calm state with the grey mountains reflected in all their perfection.
So on with the motor again.
Just for a bit of entertainment we thought we would try to sneak around the back of Carna Island - but one we got down to 1.5m and I could see the rocks coming up at us I checkened out.
We motored along and then as the ebb started to flow we killed the engine and let the boat drifted while john caught four mackeral.
The weather man was predicting rain at two so we put on the engine and were soon bashing across the sound of mull into the force four south easterly. The Ferry was leaving as we entered and Tobermory opened up before us with its brightly coloured buildings.
It is the set for the famous kids series called Ballamory and is now experiencing a bit of a tourist boom - but only during the kids holidays.
We had a quick walk around town and bought a loaf of fresh bread - Jon at three of his mackeral. I made him cook them out ion the cockpit so the boat still smells fresh and clean and not fishy. I had some spicy sliced suasage with my fresh bread. Very nice it was but as the weather man predicted the skies started to blacken so I drank a glass of wine and slept through the afternoon.
The town has 50 visitors pontoons - only one of them was occupied but now at 6.30 there are half a dozen boats hiding from the steady drizzle. It is now getting dark - we have the fan heater on accasionally - not to keep warm but to keep the damp at bay.
Listening to music and reading.
dead flat Loch Sunart
sound behind Carna island - chickened out of going through
sound of Mull
sail training ship
brightly painted sea front
this old wooden boat has an air cooled engine - and why not?
signs of the tourist boom
The ‘sail training ship’ is actually one of Gordonstoun School’s classrooms – Ocean Spirit. I think it’s 80 foot; moors in Plockton during the summer and takes the children of those that can afford to send their offspring to the public school around the west coast of Scotland.
Oh, and the ship above that is the Hebredian Princess, a converted of CalMac ferry now doing tours for cruising types on a small scale but big budgets! Not that I’m a west coast cagoule wearer… http://www.hebridean.co.uk/our-ship.html
If the mobile chippy is on the quay don’t miss the best fish and chip on the w Coast
ate there tonight – v good indeed
Gordonstoun’s boat was moored in Salcombe harbour in July.
I second that , the scampi and chips were excellent