Well here we are, finally in Scotland! Secured the lines at Port Ellen at 5pm having set off at 8 this morning from Glenarm.
We were all up early hoping the weather forecast would give us what we want – they predicted winds, variable, becoming 3 to 4 south easterly, smooth sea and and and…. RAIN – just what we needed – apart from the rain. However, I’m growing a little skeptical about the weather forecasts and think there is alot of artistic licence used (just like me in my blog I hear you say!)
We made really good use of the wet weather gear today as we all got a good soaking
- Chris on the helm being protected with our RBE kit!
- John loves being on the boat regardless of the weather!
the weather forecast may be a tad unreliable at times, but it certainly predicted the rain well.
Rick decided it would be best if we don’t all spend time up on deck and pair up and take watches so we could take shelter and rest out of the rain. As Mike was already on the helm, having taken RBE out of Glenarm Marina, I was asked to partner him, one on the helm whilst the other keeps watch – acting as a team! Is that clear to you? If it is, then you can you imagine my astonishment that when I took over the helm Mike went down below for what I thought was a quick toilet break, but he, in fact, took to his bed for a little morning snooze for an hour!
Fabulous – he has given me something to blog about and you can continue to imagine the ribbing I am now giving him! We are learning lots of nautical terms, and now Mike has increased his vocabulary and now knows the word – “team” Well done Mike! I’m just teasing Mike!
- Mike needs a break, sleeping in your cabin during a watch is exhausting after all!
He then made me a lovely cuppa, but I’m not really sure if that massage he promised me in recompense really will materialise – will let you know later!
We had various passage plans in place today, with Plan A, Plan B, and probably Plan C in place – and it seemed anyones guess where we might end up as we were in the hands of the variable wind the met office had promised! However, we finally arrived in Port Ellen which is very pretty indeed.
- Marina at Port Ellen, Islay
- Where all the money in Islay is kept!
Whilst everyone was calculating the depth of our mooring at low water, and wondering if we might get stuck in mud at midnight, I was much more interested in the CoOp I had spotted and went out to hunt out some bargains!
Lovely dinner, yet again – Chicken Kiev, pasta with tomato and mascarpone sauce with carrots and broccoli.
We all poured over a road map of Scotland (yes – a road map!) and realizing just how far we have to travel to get to our destination at the end of this leg. All the little places we fancy visiting are well out of our reach on a trip like this,we can’t visit everywhere! However, it is giving us all a thirst for coming back up here once we are yacht masters!
- “I think we are here…..”
- “Look everyone – there is no way we can visit every whiskey distillery in Scotland!”
Had a lovely evening walk after dinner, and strode out around the coastline, it really is a beautiful place. All the wind we have been experiencing, and the rain have all now ceased and the early evening light is perfect
On the way back, 2 local woman walked past, they looked to be in their late 60’s, 70’s and one said, as she staggered round to speak to us “I’m going to start a riot! I’m going to stock the shelves of the CoOp with some decent stuff and not charge the extra 20% they do cos they call themselves a convenience store!” We had quite a chat about it, I personally feel this is a very good CoOp shop compared to many I have visited whilst traveling around the coast of Britain, but they were not to be convinced. Its lovely to have a lovely discussion about politics and economics isn’t it!
Back to the boat, and found “Toby”, the Seal who appears every evening, as regular as clockwork to be fed from the local fisherman. He appears in early spring, really skinny, gets fed each day and leaves late autumn really fattened up. Unfortunately, I have been giving my camera a bit of a hammering and wasn’t able to capture this moment for you!
As usual, we had to continue our contribution to the local economy so we retreated to the local pub. It felt rude not to try some of the local whiskies.
- Just a few choices…….
I tried Bunnahabhain 18 which was gorgeous, and followed this with Lagavulin 16, which, although being very different and far more peaty, was gorgeous!
Now in my cabin, with surround sound snoring completing this blog – whiskey still warming me, I’m snuggling down to sleep – Goodnight!
