We will get onto Trip Advisor later, first the good stuff. It is yet again a driech day but not so bad as last time, in fact it is a really good day because it is easy to stay inside when it is blowing a real gale and occasional showers, no yachts/visitors in the bay although now I’ve written that a mast will surely appear.

Their Spirit Not Dampened

Last time it was driech the crew of Yacht Escapade were out walking. They were drenched but full of fun and after a liquid ‘wine o’clock’ in the cabin they were in even better spirit, that was last Sunday. Monday 24th June back to the coal face and the deer carcase was due for butchering.

Quality

The day was spent cutting it up, weighing and freezing it. Although everything is late here the carcase had a good bit of fat and that reflects the grazing available to the deer. During the day I had a visit from Sandy Ogilvie from Staffin, doing one of his boat trips with visitors. They took off to Church Cave and about an hour later I had a thought his boat might go high and dry as he was on the East side of the pontoon.

No Panic

The tide was making but it must have been close, be warned! Next day I had an appointment with ‘Bill Taylor’ who was collecting 10 kM squares, I cannot remember the details but we were the second last 10km square that made the criteria, the last is in Shetland.

Bill Taylor

We had been out lifting creels and sightseeing with two of our guests and it was a simple pick up off the rocks. No wildlife to speak of, just a Royal stag looking down on us at Dhu Chamas, Dawn my crew missed the picture!!!!!

Early Morning Slumbers

With one stag under the belt it was time to get another and I set off very early next morning expecting to bump into Bill who was going early to the lighthouse, it was grey and cold so I was not hopeful, occasionally the sun came out making the temperature jump dramatically. Everything was peaceful and although I saw plenty deer and Sea Eagles no stags, the Black Back gulls saw to that. Later in the day ‘The Baron Kelvin’ Skipper, Dave called to say they were on their way and would I join them for tea, an offer I seldom refuse, especially with Lorraine absent. They reported dolphins in the Inner Sound but nothing much else on the move.

The Baron

It was good to see Dave, Ali, Billy and Margaret. we had a good night and pretty early we sauntered up to the house, I had been on the go since 4.am so I was pretty beat.

The Saloon on the Baron

As usual Alison laid on a lovely spread and with some Rona prawns and strawberries it was yet another feast!! Next day Alison went down with a cold so only three of the crew joined me for coffee in the cabin.

Midgies

The midgies kept them on the move and very shortly after the coffee they were off to Mallaig awaiting an engine part for one of their engines.

Summer Produce

That afternoon I spent an hour in the tunnel and got so much produce I had to look out the preserve book, nothing much interested me but with a fridge full of cream stawberry ice cream was the winner, the rest I had for tea.

Rona

Thursday, Ian Edwards from Aberdeen arrived at the door with his dog Rona, I got to know Ian around three maybe 4 years ago when he came in and lost his pick up pole in a very strong gale of wind, trying to pick up our mooring. Since then he has been a welcome visitor and calls every year. His new boat looked pretty impressive a Southerly with a carbon fibre mast (very long). His ‘pup’ called Rona was even more full of life than she was last year, desperate to play with the cat! Later on that afternoon, L came home after a ten day trip South, glad to be back we said cheerio to Pam and Kevin, as it was near 5pm I finished for the day and got L’s news.

Skipper Pam

Pam is learning to drive the boat and with an experienced skipper like Kevin the training should be ‘plain sailing’. All too soon it was Friday evening and after a grey start it turned out a beautiful evening with fantastic cloud formations, lots of wind up there.

High Cloud

Cirrus

It has got to better than TV watching clouds. Saturday arrived, calmer than we had expected and our guests were ready to reluctantly leave.

Dave and Sharon Enjoy The New Furniture

Fay was returning so only one family out. K&P are off to Norway for a cruise (lucky people) casting off as I write, so they were in good form, excited about their trip. A quick turn around and they were on their way. We got the mail and papers so spent a couple of hours after the changeover enjoying a newspaper. Later that day I went out to the mouth of Big Harbour to contemplate lifting some pots but it was too brisk for one aboard.

Grey Afternoon.

The light was superb though,  although the wee camera couldn’t do it justice. Later that day we were surprised to see a green yacht a Contessa arrive from the North. We had to sort out a lamb and clip sheep’s feet. So we did not pay much attention.

Penned Up.

The lamb had a limp and having just received a communication from the Dept’ of Agriculture on lameness on lambs we hoped to sort it out quick. After that the ‘Trip Advisor’ moment happened.

We have had many yachts in this last while, in fact to date over 170, most lately have been very positive and that is so good to hear. Even our visitors book shows that.

The Rona Visitors Book

Isabel on ‘Glance’; was particularly impressed even more when she got to sample the strawberry ice cream!!

BUT there is always one.

The last yachtsman in  appeared at the door then proceeded to tell me how much he did not like the developments on Rona, after deflecting that,  I found out he lived in Lewis, which could do with some development. It was easy to reply to him  as 11 years living here you get used to it. These places may be remote but there is no reason for them to remain dead to satisfy a selfish view for one night’s visit. Not happy with the comment about the developments he then asked about our showers and when told it was £5 per shower, he said that it was outrageous to charge that and he thought a mention on the web site Trip Advisor would be his next stop. To do what I don’t know but I guess it was a threat to try and reduce my price but once I pointed out we spent £15,000 last year on fuel delivered by landing craft and boats at enormous cost and that in fact the showers were heavily subsidised he may not visit TA. But to quite honest I don’t really care because we are happy with what we do here and visitors who really want to be here get it.

Yacht Anti-Development Leaving

Well I do not know if we are on it but I guess I’ll never find out because we have no intention of looking.