View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Wednesday 4 February 2009

The epic journey - part 3

Well, I made it. Forty-three hours late. At 1.45 pm this afternoon, MV Clansman docked at Stornoway, and I stepped ashore in Lewis. Originally, I was to have come back by plane at 6.50pm on Monday 2 February, but it did not quite work out that way. Instead of 12 hours, it took me 55 hours.

This morning, I left the Royal Highland Hotel beside Inverness's railway station and went to the bus station. The station building was dark and deserted, so I could not buy a ticket. The driver had to sell me one. He left 5 minutes early, and we reached Ullapool without any problems whatsoever. Dire warnings were out about snow, but there was only a thin wreath of white on the higher summits, and some slushy stuff by Loch Glascarnoch, the highest point on the A835 between Garve and Ullapool. Reached the latter place at 9.30 am. MV Clansman turned up just after 10, and headed back out to sea 45 minutes later. We had a very rough crossing, and I think a lot of crockery got broken, judging by the sounds from the gallery and the desperate running around from a member of staff. Not everybody enjoyed the trip, there were a few green faces around. The weather is pretty dismal, snow, sleet, rain, and barely +2C. That's 7 degrees down on the previous weekend's performance.

So, the epic journey is finally at an end.

9 comments:

  1. I am so happy to hear you are home safe and sound, tired I am sure after all of that!! I had to chuckle at a few green faces...I most likely would have been one of them. :) What an adventure.

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  2. Glad you made it home safely. What a major frustration to have so many delays!

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  3. Thank God..your are back safe and sound..Bet you will sleep well tonight.
    Love Syil x

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  4. Guido, guess you are glad to have made it home. That trip must have been a nightmare. Have good drink and sleep tonight.Bill

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  5. So glad you made it safe and sound! Get some much deserved rest!

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  6. I suggest a big glass of wine and a lot of sleep. Then you can put your compositional resources to work and tell us a bit about the highlights of your trip. ~Mary

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  7. Hurray! Glad you are back homeside. It was a trip and a half for sure! Keep warm and enjoy!

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  8. Glad you finally made it home :o)

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  9. Great you are back home safe and sound. Must have been distressing. A friend of mine was stuck at Stanstead airport for 3 days not being able to get e return flight to Milan!!! Keep warm. Ciao. Antonella

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