Been a full on week-end. Nothing new here, the Islands Malts Challenge (or Muster?) is in the area so we were expecting incoming, however we had a changeover first and Nicky and Ian were here to get involved for the first time. As we had a stepped changeover (Some Sat’ some Sun’) it was a good chance to show them the ropes.

Faffing About.

As much as I was hurrying the leaving guests, they were refusing to budge, something to do with the great week they had just had. However we did get them away and we look forward to maybe seeing them again.

Wind going South

After weeks and weeks of North wind we detected a change and with grey clouds overhead there seemed to be a drift over to the wind out of the West. It certainly looked pretty bleak out to the Sound but the clouds did break and we had some sun later in the day. Andrew the helo’ pilot and his mates were away fishing but had said they were going to the Three Chimneys Restaurant that night, a long trip from Rona round Skye but they were intending going to Portree and getting a taxi, they had had enough rock and roll Friday in very heavy seas. I take it they enjoyed their meal because I did not see them return but they and their stuff were away in the morning (to-day). Good to see Andrew, he was missed up at Qinetic when he left for the North Sea.

After the turn around was all done and dusted, Ian headed up to the Summer house and I got stuck in with the girls to chores around the house, then the Malts yachts arrived, we could have sold loads of prawns but sadly we had few to sell. There were showers, postcards and venison bought and loads of requests for wifi, info’ etc etc. At the last count there was 8 yachts in the bay, one canoe hulled yacht  from Australia which had taken 18 months to get here and a load of Icelandic sailors who were very happy to see our showers.

Late on we went out for a bit of fishing and checked some creels and before we could cough it was 6 o’clock so a quick return home found Nicky and L having a glass out front in the evening sunshine. Yacht Escapade joined us and we had a good half hour with Nick, his wife and crew, many thanks for the wine!!!

Shooting the Gear

To-day started overcast and with the odd blink of sun it wasn’t bad but still not what we have been used to, at least it stayed dry. Dave and Jane were coming to-day so another changeover and MV Spindrift was arriving at 12.15. Everything was going swimmingly well until 15 minutes to 12 when the valance under the bike struck a tree root and bent it back so it was up to the garage for a quick repair.

A Quick Repair

Pam and Kevin duly arrived with the guests then it was over to Dry Harbour to sort them out and quickly strim the garden which was abandoned yesterday when the new strimmer head jammed with cord. Great new idea but a fiddle to fix. However we got that done and Dave and Jane  were well pleased to be back. Over to Big Harbour and Ian was busy at the  Summer House/Garden shed. Hopefully we’ll get the roof on tomorrow but he has certainly brought this project forward, we’ll soon be running out of timber but hope to get 20 + sheets of osb board (9mm) over soon. I did not realise there was two sizes of board and ours is imperial (4 ft) no wonder I’ve been pulling my hair out in the past when I’ve had to sheet a wall.

Coming On

Ian worked late on and we got the house tidied up too after a busy changeover week-end. I went down to the boat to tidy that up and found a bottle of wine and card left by a very friendly yacht crew, thank you, we know who you are. That was in complete contrast to the two yachts who arrived at the door at 9.30pm tonight with a 5 gallon drum and a plastic bag full of what looked like dishes. First question, is this the toilets? Second question, where is the water? What about Good Evening we are x and Y? How are you? Anyway, it seemed they needed water to drink and they wanted to wash their dishes. Very strange. I told them about the £1 charge to land on the pontoon and get access to the facilities but alas they had no money with them. So I suggested they got some! But I let them in to do what they had come to do. I have to say all very tiring but happily not too common a scenario lately. I just wish sometimes these guys would show more appreciation and understanding of just how much this ‘sympathetic’ development costs.

Heading Back to The Yacht, Dishes Washed For Free

On a more positive Yachting note, a young couple arrived at the door this afternoon with their two kids, sadly no picture, but they called to pay for the mooring. No huge white boat just a lowly Snap Dragon which they appreciate very much and value so much that they certainly did not grudge a tenner to have a safe night on our mooring. They are just starting out having sold their Wayfarer a few years ago too upgrade to their wee sailing boat. They had a tale about their first trip out when they lost their rudder at the Gairloch lighthouse and were rescued by Stornoway Coastgaurd Helicopter. But undeterred they are setting off on more adventures, good luck to them and their two (very) young girls.