Barra to Oban

June 7, 2008 on 10:43 am | In Uncategorized |

It was early evening when the Clansman sailed out of Castlebay and I was concerned it was going to be one of those long ferry crossings which seem to go on for ever, I admit I did get bored a couple of times, it is five hours, but once we passed Coll and entered the Sound of Mull it was stunning. The sun set leaving the sky glowing a hue of pink with turquoise clouds. Mull had a few clouds shrouding its summit and there wasn’t a ripple on the water.

I was trying to remember the last time I sailed through and I think it was over ten years ago. I came through on the Lorne Leader, a 100 foot Brixham Trawler she was over a hundred years old. We tied to against the peir in Tobermory and had a wild evening in the Mishnish. As we came to the end of the Sound I remembered sailing with groups and camping at Inninmore Bay on the 28 foot cutters from Outward Bound. There used to be a wee bothy there and you could camp near and sit on the porch just taking in the scene.

On the ferry I managed to get started on two more trips for the guide book and a couple of pints from the bar.

In Oban, I am staying  in the Oban Backpackers which is I think part of the MacPackers group and is good as hostels go, in the middle of town, clean, it does have great showers and a wireless connection.

We are off to Kilbowie Outdoor Centre for an upgrade course tommorrow to allow us to run 4* sea kayaking courses under the new scheme. It is all very confusing so I am hoping Gordon is going to make it clear tommorrow. I hope so or I will be ranting on in the next few days.

Tim Pickering
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