View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Thursday 5 July 2012

Thursday 5 July

A bright day, but during the afternoon the fog in the Minch crept ever closer to and onto the shore. Nonetheless, we managed 17C / 63F. I gather from my American friends on Facebook that they started the day somewhere between 80-90F (27-32C). I think I prefer our temperatures. There was a 20 mph breeze from the north, which took the edge off the temperature.

Our ferry seems to be back to normal, after returning to port at 3.30 am (two hours late) this morning. The only thing hampering her crossings today are fogbanks in the Minch. The ferry between Harris and North Uist is on an amended timetable due to the springtides - it can't sail at low tide as there just is no water in the channel at certain key points in the journey.

Two Tornado jets collided in mid-air between Inverness and Wick on Tuesday. Fog in the Moray Firth has hampered rescue efforts. Two airmen were recovered alive from the wreckage, but two other remain missing presumed dead. One of those saved later died in hospital of his injuries. The RAF base at Lossiemouth, near Elgin, is in mourning for its lost personnel. An investigation is on-going into the cause, which could take some time.

Be careful around spell checkers. The Stornoway Gazette on-line posted this line:
MV Isle of Lewis set sail for Ullapool this morning (Thursday 5th July) at 7.00am, just 10 minutes later than secluded, after overnight repair work.
Methinks that should have read scheduled.