Last week’s weather continued to get better with sunny days and warm temperatures. Most nights there was a bit of a sunset and every forecast was looking good.

Promising

With dry days it was good to get on with the pre-winter jobs. The JCB started for a change so it was straight into removing the boat engines. Calum had stripped them but I had to take them off and up to the shed for some major servicing.

Strip Down

The problem was that there was not enough light in the day and at 4/5ish the nightly sunset appeared, we nearly missed this one with yet another lamb stuck in the brambles.

And It Continues

Next day it was further North fixing the walkways across the bogs on the path to Church Cave. The old scaffold boards we use had  had their day and I managed to source some from Hugh our digger driver.

Path Work

Back down to the boat to finish up the winterising and to my surprise a yacht appeared. Very late for this time but not really a surprise in such good days, in fact I did see a few pleasure boats heading up and down the sound. Probably heading to their winter berths

It was ‘Rub a Dub Dub, from Stein. A bit late to be leaving the boat out and having to come round the top of Skye. At this time of year I hear it is always a bit rough.

Hind stalking started this week and just in time Julie arrived looking for food, she is getting old and a bit thin but her calf is in tip top condition. Maybe if the hens stopped stealing her food she would get a bit fatter!

Feeding Time

Must Be The Last One

Mid week (Wednesday) The yacht left and I guess had a good leisurely sail down to Strollamus, no doubt next time I will see it it will be by the side of the road in the boat yard, right beside Calum’s boat, Kestrel.

Winter!!!!

It was good to get out with the rifle and assess the deer numbers, the weather was fine with good views out to the Outer Isles and back to the mainland. After years of monitoring the herd and holding back on the hind cull, I’m afraid numbers are at the higher end now and it is time to start. The rut and stag shooting in October is pretty exciting especially with all the action. But, the real stalking starts in the winter when the hind cull takes place. The hinds are very watchful and one false step and their off. I did see plenty and also quite a few stags which is encouraging. So a quick call to our stalker friend Wallace and he is organised to come over to-day (Monday 24th) to help.

At Last

Friday the weather did change and it got greyer and colder. I was out early with the rifle and had seen some hinds around the Applecross BB mast. But one mistake and they were off. But I did have the meters in my pocket so the walk was not wasted. I opened the cabinet but did not need to check anything as all the lights were on. The North coast had its broadband back, Sean and Ali will be relieved!!

A Grim Day From The Window Seat(2pm)

So much for our weather, on Saturday it was a grey damp start. Nothing for it but inside work. Sunday I had planned butchering the two hinds I shot during the week so with no encouragement to go out in the miserable weather it was easy to spend the day catching up on housework.