Episode 15 Our time at Islay, Gigha and up to Oban.
With our late arrival and being a cool evening we slept like logs. Our plans for Islay were in place from winter in Toronto when a broken whisky glass necessitated out return for the replacement. We were up early and sorted out the boat, gave the water line a scrub as to our mortification we have growth on our bottom!
Noel using the new stiff bristle brush that we purchased when in Glenarm. Off to the harbour master's office to square up for the nights dockage and check out the bus schedule. Well the first bus was at 2pm to Ardbeg distillery. From there you walk past a few more distilleries on a dedicated foot path back to the harbour of Port Ellen. There was a large vessel in bound and the harbour master needed us to move from the hammer head so when he heard of our mission to replace a glass he offered to drive us out to Ardbeg well guess what....they were closed for a main land event! The harbour master had kindly waited as the place was too quiet...he wanted our slip and so was there to drive us back to the boat again. So off we went to promptly only to come to a stop on the sandy bottom. It was low water.
Islay whished us to stay but a short blast of reverse and we were away. We were headed to the island of Gigha.
Passing Lagavulin distillery.
It was a short sail to Gigha, under way at 13:15, anchored Ardminish Bay, Gigha 17:30
Rounding Cara to the south of Gigha.
First time this season that we were to use the dingy. Everything needs lubricating following almost three years up on the hard due to lock downs and travel restrictions. 
The pontoon with the boat house.
Breakfast of champions, peanut butter with either marmalade or jam both of which we made by in Wexford. 
The moorings were full and so too was the pontoon for people eating at the boat house so reservations were made for dinner. This photo we think is a sister ship to our friends in Bangor. 
It was so sunny we put out the solar panels. We are good up to three days on anchor before this is needed it just seemed too good an opportunity with the sun shining.
Noel busy scrubbing the fender gummy marks from the hull. I was busy adjusting lines, passing gear, tidying and most important, making coffee. 
The ferry was back and forth. They brought a coach load of people to see the national trust garden and then it missed the boat as too many cars got on the ferry before the bus was able to go. I'm sure the ice-cream sales appreciated the business. 
When we were in New Ross we got a new clip connector for the Johnson outboard fuel line. This was not quite the right one and we could not stop the fuel leak so the engine would start but not run. 
Noel worked most of the afternoon before calling it and deciding we needed a professional to fix our fuel issue.
Minor problem yet getting parts, it's a big issue.
Had to try zero alcohol Guinness, it was OK.
Rowing to dinner gave us lots of time to admire the nice clean hull.
Noel had had enough!
Great investment by the community in the pontoon. We are the boat that is the farthest out...of course.
The boat house, we met the harbour master outside so could pay the pontoon use fee. We chatted about where we could get assistance for the out board and he said Oban is the only place...well lucky for us that was where we had planned to go next. 
Hot fresh and delicious crab.
Noel was so looking forward to lobster all day... and then he tried my crab and figured it was better. 
Back on board, lashing the dingy to the foredeck. 
What a beautiful evening.
Facebook call with family in Toronto, perfect end to a great day. 
Underway at 07:30 the next day.
We have the tide with us.
A small tug towing a fish farm. 
Noel reviewing the weather.
This is where it could get really interesting as the tide is strong and the wind is with us so all good. 
With both the wind and tide in our favour the surface was not tormented, thankfully. Did you see our speed of 9.1, this could be very messy. 
Soup for lunch as Noel manually steered with the currents. Sometimes auto pilot is not great and this is one of those places. 
Arriving in Oban.
Karerra marina, we did not bother checking out if there was room. We tried for the new down town transit marina and it was packed with boats rafted. So we chose to go to Dunstaffnage 4KM north of town.
Lovely quiet and well sheltered.
We were tied up to a pontoon in Dunstaffnage, the wind pick up so we dropped the boom to reduce windage and Noel managed to find a used 6 HP outboard that was running so now to find a new home for our trusty Johnson. Its simply too great to simply place it in a bin. 
Taxi to town, this is a photo of the transit marina of Oban. We went to church then walked to the life boat and they were just in from a tasking where paddle borders had lost their paddle and drifted onto an island. So they were returning from fetching them off the island. We mentioned our 9.9 Johnson and that we were seeking a home and to donate it to the life boat and they were interested so drove us back to the boat and picked up the motor, tank and two stroke oil mix. We were delighted. 
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