Kalinka1's Adventure: Episode 17 Mallaig to Stornoway

Episode 17 Mallaig to Stornoway

The last time we were here we had our pals from Sea Pilgrim (Tony and Anne) for company. Then we were weathered in for much longer. This time it was a stop over to catch the tide.

Approaching Mallaig.

Port control entrance by traffic light system. The red's were easy spot. The green we never did find but since the reds were out we figured it was good to head in. We had the radio on if this was going to be a problem. - All was good.

Rock climbers!

Our Canada Day was spent in Mallaig where we got to meet Tuula's skipper and new crew. They too were heading north so we compared tide departure times and guess what...we both came to the same conclusion.(Bonus but I did have faith)

Had a pint at the hotel at the top of the hill and heard the Harry Potter train depart. Its a lovely part of the train line with lovely views that are familiar from the films.

We needed cheering up after failing to find rum from Rum and there was none in Mallaig. Yes we checked.

We checked out the menus of the three best places to eat according to the harbour master. We went to the corner house which we last ate at with Tony Anne Dave and Dawn. It was great. Noel had Langoustines and I had beef with haggis, yet no haggis they forgot that. It was still very delicious.

We had checked with the harbour master for when to leave to head north as it get fairly restricted so you want the tide right. We left about 13:30 so had time for some clothes washing before departure.

There was lots to see along the way.

Tuula not far behind us.

Well we were going to get wet, that was a sure thing.

We think this boat was just going along slowly waiting for the tide to be right.

Noels new rain gear is great, he could still breathe and see yet was dry. His peeked had got hung up in the engine room to dry later in the day when he had to switch to warm woolly hat. Sally gave it away I was in disguise. Phooie!!

Custom rain jacket for the tablet.

Sunny astern of us. Hard to see Tuula but she is there.

Chart of the ferry crossing to Skye

Passengers waiting on the Skye side.

Vehicles loading on the east side. The ramp must be quite the bump as this 4x4 vehicle had to take a second run to get up and onto the ramp. There were some seals playing about in the currents while all this was going on.

Their were many boats that had figured out the same tide times yet still we had always a bit of current against us.

Steam following the rain.

Tea with Battenberg cake. Noel's Aunt Ruth used to bake this. The last time we had Battenberg cake was in Toronto and Ann (granddaughter to Aunt Ruth) had baked it. So very good on a cold day in Scotland. Haven't found any since! Bummer!!

Castle needing a roof

Lots of waterfalls

Entering Portree harbour Skye, still with tide against us.

Some posh company. The seadoo's had their own floating dock sections attached to the drop down transom.

Laser sailing through the harbour.

It was massively windy. We did not get off the boat for two days. Tuula went on to Stornoway the next day. We chose to wait for things to settle down + we wanted to see a bit of Skye. Each afternoon we heard the bag pipes.

Scottish weather in the summer makes me sure glad we are not here in the winter. it was two days before we could put the dingy together.

The moorings of Portree, Skye

Sailing around here you see so many different boats its like a boat show with out the sore feet.

Each day we could hear the bagpipes playing from the shore and this was where we found the piper, at the bottom of the stairs under the tree.

It was still wet and windy when we did get ashore. This was taken by a couple from Turkey our boat is visible through the trees.

Took a municipal bus north to see some of the island.

Yacht Lucie is in the photo, they chose to anchor rather then cross out from the lee Skye, we met up with them again in Stornoway.

Departing Portree, Skye

Beautiful day, sunglasses even!

Entering Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Concrete not a wreck Though it could cause a wreck

Secured along side with a Grand Banks trawler astern owned by a Norwegian who is now residing in Scotland.

The antenna that was delivered to the marina the morning we arrived. UPS, customs with the confusion of a zero charge sim card generated lots of phone calls and emails. They could not have a zero value item but this could not get explained, they just kept referring to line two....We eventually figured it out and advised the value of $2 USD for the sim card and got charged duty. Wish we had been in the EU doing this, everyone seems to be learning the rules as they go with all the "Brexit" issues.

The installation begins.

We had moved to a pontoon when a space opened up.

Our Satellite weather and route planner system.

Where we figure to mount the Antenna.

Into the sail locker

This is the end that needs to get up to the Antenna on the rail. The job was a bit more challenging as we no longer have hole saw bits so had to thread through existing openings.