There is not much to talk about apart from the weather. It is all over the place and I guess it is all down to the Equinox . Twice a year we get it and when it is building up to the date (22nd September) the weather is usually very unsettled.  To-day it has been a beauty and imagine my surprise when I spotted a yacht, not sailing but careering down the Sound of Raasay. Once or twice the yacht took a leap into the wind because of the precarious angle it was at and the gusts of wind which at 4pm were pretty strong, X C Weather was saying 40mph at Arinish. Unfortunately I was too busy watching the yacht to take a picture.

Back to Rona. We got an email from Applecross last week asking to put a mast for internet services to Fearnamore and Diabeg, for me no problem but we await the lease etc. In the meantime we went to the hill in between the heavy showers on Stormy Sunday. We had to get GPS readings of sites for Simon from Eigg who is the engineer for this community project.

Hailstone Sunday

This was the story at ground level yesterday (Sunday) afternoon as we sheltered behind a rock from the hail that came. In between the showers it was lovely, but windy.

Double Rainbow

Trying to upload pictures to the site tonight (Monday) is proving to be frustrating to say the least. The satellite doesn’t seem to be seeing the laptop, possibly because of the ding dong storm out there. We will move on. Suffice to say between the showers up on the highest hill on Rona the view of the rain disappearing was pretty impressive.

Rain and Hail Showers Moving On Looking To Applecross

Seems the computer doesn’t like my pictures to-day, either, anyway we’ll move on. Hurrah it has managed it!!!!!

Autumn Spring Clean

I had been all Sunday morning and most of the afternoon cleaning the cooker, enough chemicals to poison most of the nature around the house I guess but it got there. After a summer of cooking for guests and big meals the signs were there but it was still a major contract.

Back to last week, it seems Rona Venison is getting quite a following. These kayakers rocked up at 6.30pm on a midgie wet horrible night, looking for steaks. They had heard that the venison was good and wanted to try some. thought they were going to stay in the bunkhouse but they were bound for Raasay and the MBA Bothy there. They had no pan, onion or oil so I gave them enough to manage to enjoy the steaks. Then as I was looking for oil in the bunkhouse and I came across two cans of Tennants lager,  which they were pretty pleased to accept. Off they went into the rain.

Kayakers

Next day Wednesday was much the same and we were certainly not expecting any visitors but out of the mist came a barge type sailing boat, grey like a destroyer. It looked pretty old.

Misty

On a dreich night three guys appeared at the garage up top. They were off the barge and like the kayakers looking for venison. The captain had bought some a year ago and really enjoyed it so had  pulled in from their voyage for some stew. They were from Bristol and had sailed since June to Greenland, Iceland and Harris. Over three months and the worst weather of course was here. The boat was over 100 years old and had plied its trade on the Severn. One of the crew was a Manx man so we had a long chat about the TT races which I used to attend.

Via Greenland

Yet again Thursday dawned grey and damp, not much of a day for outside work so I decided to shift the cooker in the cabin for the weekends visit.

Re Modelled

We had an old bed settee so I moved that up last week, the cooker was in the way so it had a shift, the room is now much better laid out and more comfortable.

In for the winter

Thank goodness Friday The 13th dawned calm and a bit of blue sky. I shot out of the harbour and lifted the last fleet of creels, all that is left is 8 lobster pots. The fishing was good so the rest of the morning was spent boiling things. Always keen to fill the freezer at this time,  it was a good catch.

The Day’s Catch

Saturday arrived and probably the second best day of the week. The midgies were really annoying but the sun was out and our guests with ‘Storm’ the wolf were happy to see the sea calm. But the forecast was pretty awful so I looked for all the things that needed to be done and spent the middle of the day getting things tied down.

Storm

There was a thought that I would go stalking with our new visitors and when I was taking their bags over to Dry Harbour the deer were quite unconcerned at our passage spending the whole morning up above the road.

Look Out

With last weeks guys away, everything tied down and the new guests in their cottages,  it was mail and newspapers for lunch.

Departed

And finally after much computer grief we are getting there. To-day was a stalking day (Tuesday 17th) It was cold wind from the North West, the deer were sheltering but the sun kept trying to get out. Marc and Clive accompanied me and we headed north west. We had a fantastic walk, a really good stalk and a second stalk but both ended in a blank so the Rona Red Deer are safe for another wee while. But we did see many Sea Eagles, a Golden Eagle, mature stags and quite a few hinds. Nice to be out especially seeing so many Eagles. They seemed unafraid and are probably related to the ones they feed down at Portree.

Eagles Hovering

We are heading out again soon but in the afternoon there was enough time to repair a puncture which refuses to be repaired. I think I’ll give up and get a new wheel. This is the last try with the ‘gunge’ from ebay.

Instant gunge

I had spied not only deer when we were out, but chantrelles too. A bit late but a welcome edition to the stores. I dried the last lot and put them through the coffee grinder and the flavour …… Good for stews, soups and even Rona oatcakes.

In the forest

I soon filled the basket and headed home. Last but not least a job that has been needing done for months, a new back door on the polytunnel. Lorraine will be pleased.

Another Tick Off The List

That is about it on a Tuesday afternoon, Calum’s coming I hear and we are hoping to get the outboard back together. We will see.