Islay

Finally decided to leave our wilderness paradise and go and see what was happening in the rest of the world, besides supplies were running low. Sent Lynne out for a load of Bog Myrtle ( it's a natural midge repellent)?and the boat smelling sweetly of the stuff we were able to sit in the cockpit and read by moonlight.

The weather forecast was basically saying the same thing every day 6-7 NW.

There seemed to be a small window presenting itself so we made our way back down the tortuous passages and out of the ' Lost World'

The weather was kind and a nice run down the outer Loch and into the Sound of Islay saw the wind barely above a 3.

However our small window shrank noticeably as we approached the rock strewn coast of Port Ellen.

The wind pipped up to a good 6 and I rolled away the genny and resorted to engine as the approach to the channel buoys was head to wind, visibility then almost vanished as lashing rain and cloud obscured the coast. To add a worry two cardinals appeared that were not marked on any of our charts or mentioned in the pilots. However it was largely common sense and after a worrying hour we got Dark Tarn tied up at the small pontoon behind the pier.

As if by magic the sun came out and the cloud and rain disappeared!

We were very grateful to be safe and once more on Islay, the island were Lynne and I were married.

We will stay awhile.

Dark Tarn is centre left of picture wth the black hull.