Some sun at last.

Susan arrived after a pleasant train journey on 3rd July. The weather was a bit blowy so we spent the night on the mooring and indeed the next night. It was still a bit driech and breezy but we left at 6am and had a good sail with the tide up to Tobermory. We met up with a friend Ian Meechan and his pal Raymond in Ian's new Benny 41 very smart it is too! The wind was forecast to be 4 or 5 southerly so perfect for a run up round Ardnamuchan to Isle Ornsay.

Ian's boat flying along past Ardnamuchan. Thats the last time we had a view of the bows!

We had a blast round Ardnamuchan with gusts to 30 knts. It eased a little towards Eigg but as it did it started to rain. I told Susan it was only a shower, which it was but it lasted about 5 hours. We were drookit when we anchored in IsleOrnsay. We ate on board and slept well. Next day was beautiful with warm sun and no wind. We decided to stay a day while Ian went up to Plockton. We enjoyed a walk and a meal ashore at night. 

Next morning was again sunny and windless so we headed up slowly to go through Kyle Rhea with a view to staying in Kyle for the night. We saw Bill Simsons Conserver against the pier so lay alongside him overnight. I enjoyed a dram and a yarn with Bill and his friends. 

Bills Conserver in Kyle

Next day we headed through the bridge in glorious weather and up to Ardban to spend a couple of days in our old haunts. It was great to see that both owners of the cottages were there so we caught up on a few years of life's passing. Tom Wilson came in on Smithereen and came aboard for a beer. We also went ashore to the Applecross Inn for tea..excellent as always.

Sunset on Ardban

Some other Ardban inhabitants

Farewell Applecross (Susans favourite sailing weather)

We left after 2 days in beautiful weather again and headed ever northwards. Having never had time to explore a bit of Loch Torridon we decided to go in and anchor in Loch Shieldaig, Torridon. A very pretty spot and a good spot to hide from adverse weather if required. 

A bonny boat in a bonny spot "Loch Shieldaig Torridon"

From Torridon we headed up to Gairloch, just another short hop but that was our intention to go very slowly towards Stornoway. We had 2 nights here with walks into the village and up to the waterfalls. A boiling of some of the best prawns ever from fisherman Donald made it a very pleasant stop indeed.

We left in a dull and breezy morning to go to Aultbea in Loch Ewe with the intention of visiting an aunt of mine who we had not seen for years. We picked up a huge mooring off the pier where it was blowing about 25knts and not nice at all. We would have gone elsewhere but this was the only place to get ashore for the visit. It settled a bit and we had an interesting dingy run ashore for our visit. We stayed the night on the mooring windy as it was and left early next morning for crossing the Minch.

The forecast was for SW 4 or 5 occ 6 which made for a fast though damp crossing. The windpilot was on though and we crossed in 5 1/2 hours. Fuelled up before berthing the weather has improved with every day. We joined the company of the "Sail Stornoway" group who organise this week for boats to come along meet up and do a few races. Aros More did not race but I crewed a few times and met some very nice people. Last night the music festival started and Van Morrison was in fine tune. Jim and Alwyn are flying up tonight to take in some music then Susan and I will start the trip home on Sunday. Weather looks fine for a trip along the north coast so fingers crossed.