This was the view last week as we left Rona for Inverness.

Day Off

We left Rona last Tuesday for a couple of nights away, we would have preferred it to be raining!!!

Venison Sales

But before we left there was a young deer to deal with, I cut it up in a hurry Tuesday morning. 4 hours flat, I was almost flat out in the heat but it needed to be done.

Dark n Stormy

We have had so many visitors it has been a bit nuts but it is good to have a sit down at the end of the day and have a rum tasting, I can thoroughly recommend the ‘Zocapa’.

Dan’s New Boat

Tuesday afternoon we  enjoyed a perfect sail to Portree on MV Spindrift. It was good to see Dan’s new tour boat, Stardust 2, we had heard a lot about it and we were not disappointed.

Wednesday shopping but first a visit to Julia to have a chat about the MacRaes who lived in the Lodge here until around the 1940’s. She had plenty tales and was on good form.

Tales From Rona

Inverness was foggy and reports of 28+ degrees on Rona were not bothering us as the shopping was cool, a bonus. We had a rushed shop but it was more of a much needed day off and family visit. Highlight of the day was the Tapas bar next to Little Italy, just the best.

Mediterranean

All too soon we were heading home and as it was our last Spindrift tour we supplied lunch and stopped amongst the Mike Whales in Loch a’Sgurr. Two adults and a posdsible calf but we now think it may have been a Basking shark. We drifted about for an hour and enjoyed the sometimes liquid lunch, very nice in the summer sun.

There She Blows

We headed back late afternoon and as the weather was fine we set off to check the pots, we had a couple of lobster which was fine for tea. Ths one obviously had a bit of damage somewhere along the way.

Dinosaur

Friday was hot, someone said it topped 30 degrees in Portree but with the cool breeze it was not so stifling here. It was too hot for shearing sheep so we organised Hugh our digger driver and sometimes shepherd to be at Arinish in the late afternoon for pick up. He was coming over to help with the shearing. Armed with his shears and Lidl bag we bumped into the ‘pier’ at Arinish and quickly had him aboard.

Just Been To Lidl

The rodeo started then as the day cooled, we got most of the sheep in, but with no dog the males broke out so we sheared some and around 9pm headed back top the Lodge for a late dinner (lobster/beefburgers!!)

Under Instruction

Next morning Hugh said we either get the missing sheep in the pen first thing or not at all. By good luck we chased them straight in and withing the hour we had them sheared. Hugh beetled off to check his digger work from early on in the year and to plan next years work.

Farewell To MV Spindrift

All too soon the MV Spindrift arrived on her final trip to Rona, she is going to Orkney and is being replaced by a 63ft converted trawler which will sail in most weathers. That will be very good and take the worry out of transporting, goods, people and us. Looking forward to it.

Jack the Hedge

In the middle of it all Ian Edwards arrived on his yacht looking for some Rona venison and whisky with his mascot, Jack The Hedge. We are looking forward to hearing about it on his next visit, we were flat out and had no time for once for a blether.

Rona From Oban Visits Rona

Sunday continued with more yachts, more visitors and another busy day. Young Rona arrived here all the way from Oban to visit ‘her’ Island!!

The weather was still very warm and calm but the forecast is now for a return to the usual and as I write there are 4 yachts in and the rain has just passed, a perfect day for catching up on the paperwork.