The Shout

Late last night (Monday) we had an unforeseen drama, one of our guests, Wendy, fell and dislocated her middle finger. Because we could not figure if the finger was broken, dislocated or just a bad stave, we called the lifeboat.

Coxswain Hamish

Hamish and crew were on their Monday night training so it was not a problem to get going with a proper shout. Wendy was very pleased to get a quick trip to hospital and without that she would have been in considerable pain until it was put back in place.

Portree Bound

We were just relaxing contemplating a glass of wine with dinner when the phone went and we had to do our first aid bit. After a busy spell this last week we were really looking forward to a night off, but it was not to be.

I had finished off the butchering of the stag by making yet another 140 venison burgers, but they are worth it, very tasty. Calum was coming, Kenny with fuel (on Sunday), the last yachts of the season were still about and friends Andrew and Steve texted to book the bunkhouse for Saturday night.

Doctors Appointment

The weather has been  mixed but the good days are pretty good. Calum took Lorraine to Portree Thursday to an appointment that she had kept missing and it was important to attend, with Pam attending to Spindrifts laid up skipper, Calum due to weather took off pretty early and the two of them enjoyed a very pleasant sail to Portree. MV Rona had a problem with one of the outboards so it was better for the more reliable boat to go to Portree but on their return we went out to lift the creels. We had a good fishing with a nice lobster and some interesting fish in the pots.

Cuckoo Wrasse

It was a cracking evening as we lifted a string of pots for the last time this season. When the sun broke through the clouds I wished I had my Nikon camera but bouncing about in the boat I would probably not have done much better.

Late Night Sunrays

Next day we put the MV Rona ashore and unloaded the fleet of creels. Then the Port engine had to come off.

Shoreside Repairs

Quite an operation but it was soon up at the garage for stripping later. When we unloaded the creels we found a prawn that was hiding in the corner of the creel, still alive since the previous evening, we released him back into the water but I guess it would be a lucky prawn to find its way back to the deep water.

Return To the sea

Once we got the engine up to the garage we set about putting the other engine in the middle and fitting the spare. Once that was done we took the boat for a run, not very fast but at least we are mobile.

Sea Trials

Next day it was urgent to capture the wayward sheep at Dry Harbour and get them back before our new guests arrived.

Sheep Recaptured

The first part was easy but the trailer was quite full and we thought the trailer might have a problem. Sure enough going up the hill the tail door was in danger of coming off so emergency repairs had to be carried out.

The Great Escape

We tied a gate to the back of the trailer and all was well. Next day we had planned the strip down of the outboard and after much scratching of the head we got it completely apart. It had been making a horrible noise but was not giving any indication that the power was down so it was a mystery. All was revealed when we split the block. The pin holding a ‘thrust’ washer had sheared and said washer was rotating, loosely,  causing the rattle. So we hope to get a pin and put it back together with fingers crossed it will do some more work.

Outboard Issues

It got really windy that day and MV Spindrift was stormbound with our guests and we were apprehensive of Andrew and Steve coming on their RIB from the North. Although it would have been a bit more comfortable with the sea. Late in the evening just as we were starting to think about getting the Coastgaurd on the case they appeared having had a pretty rough ride in their 5 metre RIB.  They had sheltered up North for a while then came down arriving around 7.30, just in time for some venison burgers and chips, very tasty!! Of course no Saturday night is complete without the usual alcohol intake, Andrew and Steve were very impressed with our master stags cast antlers on the table and suggested a new use for them.

Traditional Viking Cup

Of course they had to force me to drink the whisky out of it!!!!! A good night and next day we awoke to glorious sunshine and light winds.

The Helicopters

Andrew and Steve are university pals and both helicopter pilots. Andrew used to fly to the Base up North, now North Sea and Steve is a pensioner having ‘retired’ from the RAF!! So lots of stories and crack. We were waiting on Sunday for our guests and they were not far away, just in the gap here, but we were running about trying to get the fuel tanks ready for a delivery to Rona. Calum had an engagement in Portree late afternoon so we hoped to get done and dusted by 4.30pm. Everything went to plan and by 4pm all I had to do was take the last tank of Derv’ to the garage tank, the next day I would take the kero’ to Dry Harbour.

Monday morning, first thing I headed over to Dry Harbour after pumping the Derv’ on arriving back I discovered a leak in the old Balmoral tank. I should not have been surprised because these tanks cost the company a fortune as the plastics were guilty of splitting. It could have been worse and I don’t think I lost much but still a bit too messy for my liking.

Balmoral Tank Problems

More was to come when I tried to shift it, the tank slipped and I had some hairy moments until I got it tied to the digger.

Oil Spill

After all that and more I was happy to get time to go home and look over the new Rona stamps which had arrived in the post on Sunday.

2013 Rona Stamps- Wild Flowers

Of course that was just about the time that Jim phoned from Dry Harbour to tell me Wendy had fallen and probably broken a finger!!!! The rest as they say is history.