Monday 20 May

Private yacht "Hampshire"


Goldfinch

Picture post - 19 May

Sunday 19 May

The day started out foggy, but the cloud very, very slowly lifted off the Arnish hills and after lunchtime, the sun came out. It wasn't exactly warm, 13C, but out of the wind and in the sun it did feel warm enough. I went for a walk around the harbour, and was quietly astonished at the level of activity around the fishingboats. Nets being dried, moorings being adjusted, repairs carried out etc. An unusual boat, the Juvel II, was also in port; she is registered in St Kitts & Nevis, one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. It being Sunday, the town centre was deserted. Only the odd walker, like myself, was ambling about.

Saturday 18 May

Friday 17 May

Picture post - 16 May

Thursday 16 May

Another bright but cool day in Inverness saw me at the bus station at 7.30, in order not to miss my bus to Ullapool. A dozen folks piled on board the bus, which left on time at 8.10. Crossed the Kessock Bridge, and headed northwest to Ullapool. The gentle sloping fields of the Black Isles gave way to the enclosed valleys west of Contin, until we left the railway at Garve, and ascended onto the moors near Aultguish Inn. The mountain tops were still crowned in snow, like the Cairngorms yesterday. Got into Ullapool at 9.30, an hour before the ferry was due to depart. Had an amble about the village, and bought another book by Tom Devine about Scottish history. Ferry came at 9.45, and departed for Stornoway at 10.25. Had a late breakfast, then sat back to enjoy the scenery of Loch Broom. Once out in the open sea, the vista widened to Rubha Reidh to the south and Suilven to the north. A band of rain in the Minch announced the approach to Stornoway, but it was sunny when we docked there at 1.15pm.

Picture post - 15 May

Wednesday 15 May

Got up at 7 am to catch the 7.55 train from Inverness to Edinburgh. The day was bright and sunny, although cool to start with. The train set off on time, but ground to a halt some 13 miles out of Inverness. The train conductor came on the tannoy to announce that the front locomotive had broken down, and the rear locomotive did not have sufficient power to push the train all the way up to the Slochd summit, 1400 feet above sealevel. So we sank back to Inverness, where coaches were provided to take us to Edinburgh. My coach left at 9.30 for the 170 miles to the capital. The ride was long but fairly scenic, passing by all the places where the train would normally stop; Carrbridge, Aviemore, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Dalwhinnie to the Drumochter Pass, 1550 feet above sealevel; on to Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Perth. Beyond Perth, the coach went down the M90 motorway to the Forth Road bridge and into the city. The timetable stated that the train would have got there by 11.20; the coach arrived at 12.50. I had an appointment at 1pm, so I had to hire a cab to get me there on time. A walk round the city took me to the second appointment, and before 3pm, I was clear of the lot. I couldn't help but notice that Edinburgh was full of the tender green of new leaves. But Edinburgh was also full of traffic and people, something this country bumpkin is not really used to. Went to Waverley Station to await the 4.32pm train back to Inverness. I was quite happy to roll out of town into the countryside again. The evening sun lit up the mountains and hills as we passed the way I had come in the morning. The A9 north of Perth is never far from the railway line. Got back into Inverness at 8pm.

Picture post - 14 May

Tuesday 14 May

At 1 o'clock, I went to the ferry terminal to go on the ferry to Ullapool. If memory serves, my last crossing was in 2009. It was a dreich day, with low cloud and occasional rain. After leaving port at 1.50pm, the island soon disappeared behind the mist and murk, and the mainland hills took a while to appear. There was hardly any swell. The crew decided to enact an emergency drill, to liven up a dull crossing. By 3.15, the mainland hills loomed up out of the mist, and the ferry presently sailed into Loch Broom. The cruiseliner Artania was anchored off Ullapool. A quick transfer saw me on board the 961 bus to Inverness. It was raining steadily from Ullapool to the watershed at Loch Glascarnoch, but the sun started to appear after Garve. Got into Inverness around 6pm, and proceeded to my digs. After a bite to eat, I went for an amble round the city. Found the old Youth Hostel on Old Edinburgh Road, which burned out in 2007 - it still stands as a shell. The edifice is a listed building, but it's best torn down. I stayed there in 1992. Had an early night.

Monday 13 May

A very wet and windy day in Stornoway, although it did improve through the afternoon. We had snow and sleet mixed in with the rain, and that pegged the mercury back to winter-like values like 8C.

A criminal trial is currently taking place at Glasgow Crown Court, related to the murder of 16-year old Liam Aitchison back in November 2011. Two men stand accused, but have pleaded not-guilty. The unpleasant details of the murder have been spelled out in court, making for at times distressing reading.

Last week, the body of a 51-year old local woman was discovered on a beach at Swordale. She had taken her life by jumping off the cliff. Ann Maccallum had been the manager of the local Woolworths, succeeded by its successor WeeW. The suicide came as a complete shock to the community here; a memorial service is to be held in Stornoway later in the week.

Saturday 11 May

The MV Hebridean Princess came into port today for the first of this season's visits. She is a small, 49-passenger cruiseship, converted from the former Calmac ferry Columba. For £5,000, you can spend two weeks hanging over the railing, being seasick around the Hebrides. Sorry.

It was a nice sunny day today, but not terribly warm. After 17C earlier this week, we have gone back to 12C. The sun feels warm enough, but the air does not.

MV Hebridean Princess