Kalinka1's Adventure: Episode 16, Up the sound of Mull, Muck, Eigg and Rum.

Episode 16, Up the sound of Mull, and on to Muck, Eigg and Rum. Underway form Dunstafinage to Tobermory

Other boats were moving about. there was some wind against tide. This issue was short lived after we got in the lee of Mull from the westerly wind.

We arrived and tried to anchor. We are still getting used to the windlass and it has a controlled drop so the wind and tide caught us and then we had to raise it up again quick. Anchoring can be a bit stressful as whomever is on the helm can not see the bow person especially when they are on their knees forward of the dingy. Noel could not see me. When the chain jumped off the gypsy and started to run out like mad...he knew something had gone awry just not what. Managed to check the fall of the chain and get it winched back up with out getting hung up on anything. You know how sound travels over water...well the whole anchorage new my name. Then we had a friendly, helpful call on 16 directing us to the last remaining mooring. Very welcome news. This we picked up no hassle, the wind died and we were good, one of the closest in moorings to the dingy pontoon in the harbour, perfect!

The forecast was not great, we were happy to be in harbour.

Boats from Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Dogs galore on boats around here.

Eating well, enjoying the local fare.

Between showers we tried to get the dingy commissioned. 1st it needed to be bailed. we estimate 6" of rain has fallen since we have arrived.

Rain would not let up.

New outboard works just fine. Its a longer shaft and this is its first "test drive", we are pleased. The engine has an integral fuel tank + the capacity to feed from a fuel line.

The sun makes an appearance. We decide to stay another day for walk about as we had not yet been off the boat since arriving.

Kalinka 1 on the mooring.

Gelly fish galore, we drew one up through the intake of the head and when we had the anchor issues one got hung up on it. Figured we would need to pay attention to the engine temperature in case one clogged up the coolant intake of our motor.

Drying our gear from putting the dingy together.

Reviewing sailing directions and plans for the next day. Its chilly on board as the water is 11C and the air temperature is not so warm.

When ashore the sound of water rushing to the sea was everywhere.

Kalinka 1 is the one boat not facing the same as all the other moored boats.

We failed to find this GeoCash but did find lovely toasted sandwich and coffee at the top of the hill along with a great view.

Water that runs under the road joins up with that from the distillery.

You can see the steam more clearly, its not hot water just warm. The steam is more reflective of the cool air temperature. When we were in Wick the engineer Thomas Telford used the distillery run off for household heating of about 40 houses and its still working.

Beautiful evening, cruise ship is in town, youth groups out kayaking and sailing toppers.

its a small cruse ship, the ferry rafted to it.

So glad we stayed and had a walk about.

Engine fluid checks complete.

And we are off, departing Tobermory.

Passing the light house out side of Tobermory we saw two basking sharks. They are really hard to get a photo of so this is as good as it gets.

We passed Muck, the swell would have made the anchorage uncomfortable.

Manx Shearwater's galore.

Rum, on the chart there is a cottage next the stream on the LHS, its stone and blends in with the hill beautifully. We could not find a road and there was not a trail to the water. Helicopter or hill walking was what we figured, No evidence of farming or vegetable garden so figured holiday home.

Entering Rum harbour.

Mooring ball with pick up pennant, perfect!

Quiet place is Rum.

When we first got back to the boat from Toronto we went to Rum Club with my sister and husband. We got to try some Rum from Rum and loved it so Noel and I we were on a mission.

The avenue to the run down castle.