Ardfern Anchored 05 June 2024

 

We were asked by the marina manager to change berth today - the owner of our first berth is apparently on their way back so we had to vacate it. Today has been a day of sunny breaks and fierce squalls with heavy rain.  Naturally, just as we started to move, a squall came in, and almost as soon as we had tied up at the new berth it went dead calm - thus the picture above.


The only coffee/lunch spot in Ardfern is Lucy’s.  It’s very popular, so we booked a table at 10.30 for breakfast. And the food (we all had their cooked breakfast) was very good (except for the sourdough toast with a rock hard crust almost impossible to cut) but the experience is not as good as it should be.  There were a lot of flies whizzing about - a problem that should not be difficult to solve - the people on the next table had to ask for it to be wiped down because it was covered in crumbs, and one of the tiny jugs of milk for the coffees was off - Mary only noticed after adding it to her coffee.  They replaced the coffee and milk without question, but this should not have happened.  It’s a real pity because they are so close to doing things so well.  We had problems with service here last year, so perhaps it’s our own fault for trying again. 

The food was good (except for the sourdough).

So what do you do in Ardfern on a squally day?  Well that’s obvious!  You do an anchor survey.



This is just a small selection of the anchors at Ardfern.  There is a huge variety with everyone having their own preferences.  Of course, it was pretty obvious to me which anchor was the best:

By far the best anchor!

So, having done the anchor survey, we had all afternoon to spare, so what next?  Easy, a food supplies shopping trip to Lochgilphead - a 35 minute bus trip each way with a good Co-op at the far end.  The excitement was difficult to contain.


Lochgilphead is busy wee town that is now rather tired looking. Population 2300. The Co-op is probably the busiest place in the town.

Tired though it may be, there is now some real effort being made to revive its fortunes as a tourist and visitor centre.  This is the seafront and promenade which was redeveloped into an attractive and spacious area, and officially opened in 2022.  There are a number of buildings on the main street that are currently being renovated by a community organisation.  So it’s all getting better.

Our bus journey back to Ardfern was particularly quick.  The bus driver looked like Alexei Sayle and we think he must have been on a promise. Anyway he got us back to Ardfern quickly.

Susie has made an excellent Cullen Skink, served with a tiger crusty. Living the dream.

No bird list today - it was much too busy.

Plans for tomorrow are being revised as we speak!







































































































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