Lazaway Life

  When I say Dash, I really mean Splash! After reviewing many weather forecasts multiple times, along with tidal streams, all at multiple locations, but particularly off the Mull of Kintyre, we decided to make a dash all the way to Bangor.  After today the forecast is windy and rough for a full week.  If we didn’t go today we would be stuck for at least a week. A dash in Lazaway is, of course, not really a dash - we are limited to 8.5 kts (the most fuel efficient speed for the boat), unless we can pick up some tide.  On this journey we started going with the tide, as we went through the Sound of Luing and down the Sound of Jura. Inevitability the tide turned, and as we passed the bottom of the Mull of Kintyre the tide was absolutely against us.  Indeed it was against us all the way down the Irish Sea until we got to the Maidens, off Larne, when it turned again and we had a bit of tide with us for the last hour. This illustrates the difference the tide makes to o...

  A Barrel Jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmonary  in Oban harbour. We’ve seen quite a few of them as we have motored about in the past two weeks. This one was about 0.5m across. They are harmless to humans. Last night and all this morning has been dominated by really quite strong winds and lashing rain.  We have been bouncing about quite a lot at our berth - with a lot of rope creaking.  Consequently we are not going anywhere today.  However, there have been no end of things to entertain us. First of all one of our freshwater tanks ran dry, and as a result we got an airlock in the freshwater system.  Very easy to resolve you would think.  But not at all. It was only once we got to plan D did we finally get it sorted - keeping us occupied for about 1.5 hours. John and Jacquie took their boat over early this morning to Kerrera to leave it for a couple of weeks.  They then got the wee ferry back to Oban through the wild weather and came for shelter to us. C...

  Jerry and Sue on board Osprey heading south past Arisaig Skerries at about 09.30 this morning. With the weather finally calming we set off from Mallaig at 08.20 this morning, for a 6 hour trip to Oban.  We have been waiting for good weather because passing Ardnamurchan Point is quite exposed, and as hoped, it was all good.  Indeed, it was a bit calmer than we thought it might be. The highlights of today have been the views and vistas (not sure what the difference is - vistas are wider than views?). So here are few in the order they passed us by: Isle of Skye Isle of Eigg with the mountains of Rum behind The lighthouse at the end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula  Ardnamurchan Lighthouse from the south  Lismore Lighthouse half an hour before we entered Oban The sailing ketch Bessie Ellen leaving Oban just before we arrived. This evening we are joined by Jacquie and John for dinner. How lucky are we?! And a great dinner it was. Thanks all. Boat bird list for the da...

  Looking up Loch Nevis towards Inverie on the Knoydart Peninsula, as seen by Mary and I from the coastal path just NE of  Malaig Bheag. Knoydart is a 55,000 acre peninsula that has no roads and is therefore only accessible by boat and on foot.  It is the most remote part of the UK. The population is (apparently) 157 people, most of whom live around Inverie, on the far shore in the picture above.  They connect with Mallaig by regular ferries, several a day, which also carry loads of tourists/visitors. Meanwhile, Susie and Gordon went on a serious trek up and over Annie’s Brae, and then they launched themselves northwards towards Lochan a Mheadhoin, eventually joining the Mallaig Circular walk just north of the town. Susie with the Loch behind her. They earned their late lunch! Lazaway at her berth in Mallaig. We’ve just had a lovely evening (extensive pre-dinner drinks) with Jerry and Sue from a boat a couple of boats up the pontoon ( theirs is ”Osprey” an Oyster 45 ...

  The raising of the Standard at Glenfinnan By Chris Collingwood 1997, and commissioned by the Drambuie Liqueur Company. This was on the occasion of the temporary victory by Bonny Prince Charlie in 1745.  This painting is in the Fort William Museum - an excellent place on a very wet day (and, I suspect, on any day). We took the clicketty-clack clicketty-clack to Fort William today (it being still very windy, and jolly wet). This of course took us past Glenfinnan, where we passed The Jacobite - the Harry Potter steam train. The magic continues! The weather really was wet, so as soon as we got to Fort William we dived into Nevis Sports (a really good outdoor activities shop) for coffee and scone, and a mooch about (I bought trainers, Susie got a top).  Then up the road to the museum. Really fascinating. Here are just a few snippets: This is a birching table taken from the Sheriff Court, Fort William. It was last used in 1948 on a boy convicted of shop breaking.  Birchi...

  Eigg and Rum from Mallaig on a fresh day. After a blustery and wet night we had a gentle start to the day. It’s Sunday, so no bakery today - it’s back to porridge (so to speak).  After breakfast we went on the Mallaig circular walk - about 2.8km up a wooded valley, through the edge of some heath, then down past the houses on the NW edge of town (surprisingly, the population of Mallaig is about 700 people - far fewer than we imagined).  Back for coffee, followed shortly by lunch. Mary and I then went looking for a Black Redstart that I thought I heard yesterday - unsuccessfully. Then up to the communications tower that overlooks the town - a short steep climb that gives great views below. Mallaig from the comms tower. Lazaway at her berth. On our way down for an ice cream the Harry Potter steam train pulled in. Not the best of pictures because it was directly against the sun, but you get the idea. Once in the mood I had to browse the wands.  A little bit of magic wo...

  RNLI Henry Alston Hewat, Mallaig’s Severn Class lifeboat, was open to the public today,  so Susie and Gordon took the tour. Our day has been subdued due to rain and fog. So we have done housework and close to home activities.  Mary and Susie have spent a large part of the day doing some washing and trying to get it dried - successfully, and apparently it is a very sociable activity as other boats do the same. I have read a chunk of my new book on the history of Scotland - who knew that St Patrick was born in Dumbarton?! Gordon has done a little tinkering down the hole. Mallaig harbour in early afternoon. I went for a short walk in mid-afternoon. It was dreich. One of our highlights was a quick visit to The Bakehouse overlooking the harbour.  It is wonderful and has a great reputation - and consequently a constant queue from the time it opens until it closes. The queue in the Bakehouse at midday today. Caramelised onion and goats cheese focaccia, which we bought and...