Ardfern to Gigha positioning for the leap 13 August 2023

 

These two pictures were our views for pretty much all our journey today. We had to travel indoors due to many rain showers coming through - damp and dreich.
Thank you Ne for the excellent nautical advice.


We started the day with a short walk to the south of the marina at Ardfern, where we spotted an Osprey, and the road verges are thick with wild flowers.  No butterflies though. While we did this, Gordon had bought himself a Joker Valve for the aft toilet onboard, and couldn’t delay getting his hands dirty replacing the old valve - great after breakfast enjoyment.

We all met at Lucy’s cafe at 11.00 for a brunch.  The food was very good, the service was shockingly slow.  Complaint made, and no tip left.

We left our berth at 12.30, to head for Gigha.

The Paps of Jura engulfed in rain

The constant steady bashing through the waves, the throng of the engines and the squeak of the window wipers was soporific. Four hours of uneventful progress.

Except, during the first hour and a half, we met what seemed like a flotilla of yachts heading straight for us. It was as if the helmsmen were fresh out of a Japanese kamikaze school and they were desperate to practice their new found skills.  We had to take avoiding action for each one of them.

And then there were the Mull of Kintyre lobster fishermen.  Obviously not at all interested in catching lobsters.  They positioned their myriad of buoys right in the narrowest and busiest channels - anybody could see that they just wanted to snag innocent boaters.  After the salvage money I dare say.  We had to do a lot of dodging.

Otherwise, soporific.

Arrived at Gigha at 16.30 to find the pontoon almost empty - just one other yacht on it.  The whole place seems extremely quiet.  The hotel is closed at the moment, and we wonder if this has noticeably reduced the number of visitors.

A pontoon almost to ourselves. 


A late afternoon walk for an hour taking in the Island on both sides of the marina confirmed the hotel is closed, but also new walking and cycle paths have been created - an excellent addition.

Clockwise from top left: Honeysuckle; Blackberry; Rowan; Rose


Out to dinner this evening at The Boathouse.  Fabulous food.  Fabulous.  




Our boat bird list has just 16 species (not including the Osprey because we didn’t see it from the boat).  No seals or cetaceans today - too wet and rough.

Our route:













































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