Friday 5 April

We had something strange falling out of the skies today. It made you feel wet and slightly chilly. Looking up at the skies, the customary blue had been replaced by strange hues of white and grey, with odd wisps of darkness trailing down towards the ground. I had to check on Google, but the phenomenon is commonly referred to as rain. All the wildfires that have been plaguing the island have been put out, but a major wildfire is continuing at Skeabost in Skye, 50 miles south of here.

For the next week or so, I will not be posting pics of the usual quality; my camera has ingested an excess of dust, which (as readers will have noticed) has found its way onto the photographs. The camera has been sent for repairs, and a replacement camera (with lesser technical capability) is currently in use.

I just want to make it clear that I write very little on this blog about my personal life, partly as a pact with some of the people around me off-line. Last Friday, I posted in a state of distress, without making clear what was going on. I had an extremely unkind comment from one regular reader, who is kindly invited to refrain from attempting to comment in future.

Wednesday 3 April

The northeasterly wind, which has been plaguing us for weeks now, has subsided to a force 3, making the 7C on the thermometer feel almost springlike. Went out for a long walk this afternoon, by taking the bus to Achmore, 11 miles (18 km) by road and walking back along the Pentland Road, 9½ miles (15 km). The walk took me 3¼ hours. The first half was along the road, the second half led along a track to the access road to the Pentland Road windfarm, on the foothills of the Barvas Hills. I have been driven up and down the Pentland Road to Achmore many a time, but even when you tootle along at 35 mph, you don't have the time to take many proper pics. I therefore took a total of about 85 this afternoon.

Monday 1 April

Went for an 80-mile drive round the island, through Barvas, Carloway, Callanish, Linshader and Great Bernera. Great Bernera was in mourning following the drowning of a local diver at Croir, near Bosta. Called into Dalbeg, Gearrannan, Callanish, Linshader and Tobson. Had lunch at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village and a cuppa & cake at Callanish. I had never been into Linshader, which lies off the main road into Uig (the B8011), so it was nice to have that opportunity to see the Callanish Stones from a completely different angle. Linshader is only a few hundred yards west of the Stones as the crow flies. It was a gorgeously sunny day, but not warm. Met a friend at Gearrannan that I last met a week ago - after being out of touch for 18 months.


Loch Roisneabhat trout fishery, 6 miles north of Stornoway on the Barvas Road


Barvas Moor


Roadsign at Barvas (left); Brue (right)


Bragar


Shawbost




Dalbeg


Gearrannan


Kirivick


Linshader


Great Bernera


Along the Pentland Road

Saturday 31 March

Wildfires continue to plague the Highlands and Islands, including Lewis. Went out, being driven around, first of all to the Lewis War Memorial, then to North Tolsta. A few miles north of Tolsta, a large wildfire has destroyed an area of moorland to the north of Garry Beach, leaving blackened hillsides.


Lewis War Memorial


Coll


Wildfire as seen from North Tolsta

Blackened hillsides near Garry


At the Bridge to Nowhere


Sandblow at Garry


Traigh Mhor, Tolsta


Sandblow at Gress - it had to be shoveled off the road a week ago