Been kinda distracted of late, think I got waylaid by another late one on Saturday or if I didn’t then I certainly felt like it on Sunday. Whatever I spent most of the Sabbath doing chores about the house and getting ready for phase 2 of my ‘holiday’ This will be the part where I actually go away so much time was spent getting my caravan, Land Rover and tools ready for the trip.
The tools being required for my holiday and not for fixing the Land Rover or caravan (fingers crossed). The annual trip to Lochaline with MV Hallaig being cancelled indefinitely by our local MP Kate Forbes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Forbes This will hopefully stop the lunacy of taking a ferry from a ‘lifeline’ service to cover the drydocking of a ferry that serves an island that already has four or five ferries. This is great and long overdue news for Raasay but I do miss my wee trip down there with the caravan and CalMac paying my expenses
Anyway on Sunday I checked my lights, Changed the rear number plate, made my bed and filled my new toilet cistern pump. I’d had to free it off before going to Lochaline 12 months ago so just got a new one rather than fix it yet again.
Three ferries
Heading off at 8:00 on yet another glorious spring morning
we stopped in Broadford to fill up with diesel and stores at the Co-op before meandering towards a good dug walking spot just outside Kyle.
It’s just past the 30MPH end about half a mile on the right at a place called Scalpaidh Bay and there a great path through the woods and up to Scalpaidh loch.
There are loads of old ruins and judging by the two old oaks growing out of the middle of one they must be REALLY old
Our next stop was at Loch Oich
on the Caledonian Canal where I bought a mocha and cake at the café there https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g2549626-d7811042-Reviews-Well_of_the_Seven_Heads_coffee_takeaway-Laggan_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html Both were excellent with Molly and Bonzo enjoying their complimentary sausages too, yup the owner asked me how many dogs I had then gave me a sausage each for them
Then it was on through Fort William without even stopping at Lidl and straight aboard the ferry at the Corran Narrows.
We stopped for another bite to eat and walk on the Morvern peninsula https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morvern shortly before turning onto the single track A884 to Lochaline.
This year the third hybrid sister the MV Catriona is relieving for MV Lochinvar’s annual docking.
The short crossing across the Sound of Mull took us to Fishnish and not long after we arrived at Tobermory Campsite https://www.tobermory-campsite.co.uk/ and my old friend the owner, Angus Williams came out to meet me I used to stay here in the late seventies and early eighties and it has certainly changed
Free Wi-Fi, nice clean facilities with great showers and just a ten minute walk into Tobermory.
After getting myself sorted out and realising that I had once more forgotten to bring a saucepan I made dinner in one that Angus loaned me. A much better option than what I did last year at Lochaline, which was to boil my pasta in the frying pan Anyway, after dinner I went up to look at the Mule with Cameron in preparation for today.
The Mule being at http://www.isleofmullcheese.co.uk/ Sgriob-ruadh Farm where along with the 150 cattle they keep pigs
I need to get some more pigs
The Kawasaki 4010 diesel Mule
This morning I had a somewhat late start but had the pleasure of a nice clean smooth floor to work on and my Landy for company
I could even set my laptop up on a nice sturdy bench next to the engine to which I was fitting a new piston.
After a couple of hours I walked back to the caravan for lunch with the dugs as it’s only five minutes over the hill from the site.
With Cameron’s help after lunch we got the engine back in and transmission belt fitted before ‘knocking it on the head’ and calling it a day
Crikey, you don’t know the meaning of a holiday do you? I followed you every mile of the way from your base to the campsite, done that road many many times. You will have passed a cottage called Clounlaid that used to belong to the Ardtornish estate that we stayed at 50 years ago on our first trip to the Highlands from Derbyshire. Have a great holiday Paul.
Comment by glenelgadventure — March 29, 2022 @ 9:27 pm
Yup, remember passing it 🙂
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 30, 2022 @ 7:55 am
I’m up there next week to check out some aircraft wreckage we donated to Tobermory museum years ago. So would love to meet up for a chat 🙂
Comment by monitoringmatters — March 29, 2022 @ 10:44 pm
Hi Pat, would that be the Beaufighter or C47? never visited either sites, always too busy under the sea 🙂 Never came across the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mull_Air_Mystery Cessna in the Sound of Mull but I know a guy who did :-O
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 30, 2022 @ 7:42 am
The RAF Dakota Paul. We used an RAF SAR Wessex to recover the parts.
As for the Mull mysteries. I knew David Howitt and his mother very well. It sure was, and still is, a very strange mystery.
As you dived a lot, maybe you knew another old friend; Richard, who dived for clams and also owned Salen Pier and a sunk P&O liner.
I’m hoping to see both David and Richard next week, if they are both still alive.
If you are still there, I will also tell you about the Mull £1,000,000 gold bullion mystery.
Comment by monitoringmatters — March 30, 2022 @ 8:52 am
Aye certainly knew Richard and could tell some stories, what a character, you could not make it up 🙂
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 30, 2022 @ 7:05 pm
I can’t wait to meet up sometime, and exchange those stories about Richard – even those involving explosives 🙂
Comment by monitoringmatters — March 30, 2022 @ 8:32 pm
My good mate,Pat Carty, put me onto your blogs and love them,thanks a lot. David
Comment by David — March 29, 2022 @ 10:48 pm
Have lovely holiday Paul. Very timely, we have week on Mull in May before over to see John in Barra. 10 years since been on Mull, doubtless see some changes. Return trip to Staffa booked. We tried to book self catering for two last June, all booked up, (!!!) so we are in the hostel. Its great, stayed many times. You’ll be well home by then, have good trip. Sally
Comment by Sally — March 29, 2022 @ 11:23 pm
Hi Sally, it’s still as beautiful as ever 😉
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 30, 2022 @ 7:38 am
Have a great holiday.
Comment by todthedog — March 30, 2022 @ 5:48 am
Cheers, Tod
Comment by lifeattheendoftheroad — March 30, 2022 @ 7:37 am
Woohoo … proper holibobs at last! Followed your route as best as poss on google maps… your photos were better!
Enjoy chap and don’t go back too soon 😉
Comment by Matt — March 30, 2022 @ 7:50 am
Great pictures Paul. We have relatives that live on Morven. Can remember the exact area where you stopped on the Morven peninsula being ablaze during spring 2013. Wildfires all over the west coast that year as so very dry. You may already be aware, on the mountain just south of there is a wreck site of a USAF jet http://www.edwardboyle.com/blog/?p=984
Happy holidays to you, the dogs and your spanners 🙂
Comment by Andy — March 30, 2022 @ 9:45 am