Bangor NI, today.

Gusting 41 knots.

Continuous heavy rain.

Will drink a lot of tea today.

Sixteen things to do in Bangor when it's stormy.

1.  The Bangor Parkrun.

We did. Good but windy.

2.  Go to Asda.

3.  Eat lettuce (as purchased by Martin for Janine). 3 out of 4 now consumed. 

4.  Blog.

5.  Watch the yacht racing.

Cancelled.

6.  Catch up with any sleep deficit.

7.  Take the train to Belfast 

(Please see 16 things to do in Belfast when it's p*ss*ng with rain).

8.  Shower regularly.

9.  Visit Tourist Information (who may advise a trip to Belfast  ....  please see 7. above and 17. below.

10.  Plan a second trip to Asda.

11. Buy more lettuce. 

12. Drink more tea.

13. Philosophise with Martin on the current female form.

14. Do WORDLE.

15. Listen to Martin talking about his school friend who wore pink hot pants.

16. Walk to Ballyholme in the wind and rain.

Carrickfergus from Ballyholme (photo Martin).(NB absence of Carrickfergus)

Home and back, meeting Sira and gales in Bangor.

We hired a very small car, drove back home, cut the grass, fed the hedgehog, saw our friends and drove back to Oban. Just over 1100 miles all in.

Albatross was fine in our absence. 

We met Simon on Sira and Martin and Janine soon arrived.

21 June 2022

To Puilladobhrain, Jean and me in Albatross, Simon, Janine and Martin aboard Sira. Cruising in company.

We would have visited Puilladobhrain sooner but I couldn't spell it.

Puilladobhrain is very pretty and sheltered. We went ashore, walked over "the bridge over the Atlantic", visited the pub and dined on Sira. All good.

Puilladobhrain. 
Sadly, news soon arrived of a crisis in London that required the immediate attention of a member of our sailing fivesome. Sira returned to Oban, Martin jumped ship to Albatross and we "sailed" South.

22 June 

Craighouse.  We like Craighouse and it is not difficult to spell.

23 June

Glenarm. Ditto.

24 June

Up at 0330 ... yes, really.

We had to be up in time for the tide and to arrive somewhere before the wind arrived.

We made it to Bangor (NI).

We haven't  used "the big white flappy things" since we left Oban.

Coming soon: sixteen things to do in Bangor when it's stormy.

Waiting for tomorrow

Today, we are on a mooring waiting for tomorrow when we hope to start the big drive home.

This morning we paddled ashore and went for a nice walk in the rain. As a result, we got wet. Unfortunately, after so many weeks at sea, I have run out of socks and have been working through them for a second time.

Such a total failure in personal hygiene is not good for morale (especially mine), but Jean has now lent me a pair of hers.

She has beautiful but rather small feet.

Anyway, I have now achieved one thing today: I have put on some socks. 

Oban ... again

Once more to Oban; to hide from the impending bad weather, to meet up with Simon, to buy some shoes, to get organised for our trip home and to go out to supper in Kerrera. 

We did all these things.

Dunstaffnage was vaguely unremarkable but efficient. We slept well, refuelled and headed off to Kerrera, then back by ferry to Oban Transit Marina to meet Simon and Robin who'd  just arrived from  Craobh. Coffee and donuts to celebrate. A walk towards the castle and a  chat with some American visitors. A busy day. Nice to be on land as the wind strengthened. 

We went out to supper (yes, really) at Kerrera Marina and safely made it back to our mooring before the gale began.

The night on board was noisy and I didn't get a wink of sleep till Jean woke me, with tea  at 0900.

Old folk in Oban.

Our neighbour off Oban.

(Drumbeat  ... yours to rent for £175,000 per week  inclusive of 10 staff, a jacuzzi  and 2 Topper Topases).

Oban to Oban via Loch Linnhe

To Bernera Bay.   Almost completely enclosed but for its narrow entrance, the chart recommended anchoring in  about 5 metres at the far end of the Loch.  We dropped our hook, reversed backwards, pulled it out and came perilously close to the beach.  After much dithering and discussion we had another go in about 11 metres  and having put down our very fine oversized Rocna anchor plus 55 metres of very fine chain and tested it in reverse at 2000 rpm, we felt confident enough have supper and go to bed.  Meanwhile, a smaller boat with a list to port and a single occupant turned up nearby.  Having tested  the depth with a lead line, he chucked, with one hand, a small anchor over the side of his boat, with a small amount of chain, looked briefly around, and disappeared below.

We were both alive next morning and no one had run aground. 

7 June.  An auspicious day.

We eventually got our anchor up and headed off to Linnhe Marina   ...  60 or so moorings with a pontoon to get ashore, neatly tucked behind  the Island of Shuna.   It looked perfect, we'd stay 2 nights.

"But will be rough in the morning, I'd not stay 2 nights" advised the owner.

"Nonsense" I thought.

Maximum 10 knots forecast. It was sunny and warm.

Next morning, there was a gentle breeze straight down the loch.  It was very bumpy. We decided to head off to Dunstaffnage.  A proper marina.

And thence to Kerrera opposite Oban, to shelter from the approaching gales and to prepare for a trip to Devon  ... BY CAR!

 

Circumnavigating Mull

Salen, a 9 berth marina up Loch Sunart was perfect. Very friendly, quiet, tranquil even. We had a nice walk and enjoyed the views.

Next to Loch na Dromo Buidhe ... a tiny entrance to a sheltered, secluded Loch. We anchored.

Now on to Loch Eatharna ....   This is the main place on Coll. It has a shop, a cafe (which was shut) and an Hotel Restaurant (but the chef was off sick), so we dined aboard after a nice walk to the otherside of the Island.

Jean on the other side of the Island.

To Breachache. A bay with 2 castles. A very nice anchorage, with

a very nice flat sandy bottom. Jean decided against having a swim. 

Breachache... note 2 castles

Next day to Lunga. We've been here before but the birds are lovely.

We had some difficulty launching our dinghy from the beach, until we discovered that it was securely secured to a substantial boulder.

To Bunessan. We sailed all the way and anchored near the village.

We had Spag Bog with cheese for supper.

Today,  up early and we motored the 42 miles from Bunessan (on Mull), past Iona and back up to Oban.  Continuous headwind, continous sunshine.

Hot in Oban. 

We walked to Lidl to buy some beer.