However, here I am back at NBH ... we got back a week ago yesterday and then life happened: my brother and his wife came by and then a stepson appeared - all good and great fun all round.
Our sailing trip was low key and laid back.
We set out to go 'in the direction of the winds'. And we really wanted to do just that. We were prepared to go north up the Sound of Mull or go south and down towards the Island of Jura.
We set of from our berth in a brisk breeze, just enough to get the sails up and enjoy the ride. After an hour - just by the Lismore lighthouse the wind changed ... no big deal and the winch man organized the sails accordingly ... "Wait a minute," says the helmswoman. "The wind has changed." And the winchman dutifully winched. "Wait a minute," says the helsmwoman. "The wind has changed." And, yet again, the winchman winched and tweaked the sails ... then the helmswoman said ... well, you get the idea. It was very messy and it was also getting silly.
So, we started up the engine and got ourselves (south - a decision simply had to be made) into Loch Spelve (Mull) for the night.
We then motored and sailed to West Loch Tarbert, Island of Jura to our favourite anchorage. After several attempts in howling 20+ knot winds we abandoned our usual anchorage and went further into the loch for protection. There we stayed for a day and two nights - no question of getting off the boat in 25+ knot winds. We played Scrabble:
Never mind who won ...
We then motored to the lovely island of Gigha, where the young were swimming and enjoying the warm sunny summer day, and the next day we continued and motored on to Tayvallich (on the mainland). Note: we motored - not a breath of wind.
We were really lucky, as we know one person in Tayvallich and he was there with his wife. He is a 4th generation local and full of the history and folklore of the village and the area. We had a wonderful walk and enjoyed the afternoon together.
This is the view from their garden:
We then headed home, via Loch Spelve again to join in on a Clyde Cruising Club muster. Here are some shots that I took along the way:
The VIC 32 is a coal fired steam 'Clyde Puffer.' She was built in 1943 and is now well into retirement having been lovingly refurbished by her current owners, and is gently steaming around the west coast on private charters.
She's not quite so romantic from behind ... *cough ... sputter*
We had visitors in Loch Spelve:
Himself suggested that we take a walk and try and find an old cemetery:
The bracken was really high:
And now we are reclaiming the garden and other domestic things ...
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