Been a good few days, but busy days. Plenty visitors but not many yachts now. Just the odd ones passing by, probably heading to their winter quarters. The season continues on Rona with the cottages busy for a change, on Friday last we were over organising our guests for Saturday and remembered the ‘Orache’ that Andre pointed out on the shore. It is delicious in a salad or pasta so a quick look and we caught the last of it as it had started to wilt.

Orache.

Saturday came and went, 6 mountain bikers arrived for a day and a half tour of Rona. Quite a ‘stramash’ on the pier with wheels everywhere.

Bikes galore

Off road

They settled into their overnight accomodation but were not long in getting going, wanting to maximise their visit, they headed North to the Lighthouse.

Enjoying The View

We bumped into them at Dry Harbour, it is not very often we have to reverse back to find a passing place for oncoming traffic!

Off They go

First thing on Saturday morning I turned on the tap and nothing came out. Not again, I thought I had fixed it but no. It had emptied the smaller of the two tanks. I checked the big one and it was empty too. Not the best when we had an extra 6 for showers. After the changeover I set too to find the leak and after a lot of digging I found the pipe down at the bunkhouse was loose and pouring out, no wonder the tanks were empty.

Here we Go again

A simple connection but they do come loose, perhaps someone stood on it. It must have been leaking for a while given the three times it has run dry lately. With too many connections it is a given every year that this will happen.

Found It

The boys arrived back at night and we had ‘devised’ a new system for feeding them. Instead of a Supper Club, we are now offering a ‘Crew Pot’ suggested by Ali.

Dinner is Served

We think the boys enjoyed our Cullen Skink, slow roast venison , fresh bread and spiced apple cake. There was nothing left.

The Crew Pot

On Friday I was hearing yet another noise from the old quad, it was the exhaust bracket this time. Here we go again, Sunday morning out with the welder.

Now The Brackets Broken

Sunday, mid morning two yachts appeared, one sailed on by after dropping its sail and thinking about coming in. The other picked up the mooring but as I was down on the pier the quickly dropped it again. I wondered what they were doing as it was pretty breezy. Turned out they were only in for a few hours and as our mooring states the yachts who pick it up must pay (well why shouldn’t they) even for short stays. I did notice the name of the yacht which has some history here!!!!!!!

Worth a Try

As it happened they left around lunch time and we loaded up the mountain bikes for a bumpy trip to Raasay.

It Calmed Down For an Hour

We got the boys onto Raasay for the next part of their trip and the Sea Eagles came out to give us a display when we were sailing through the gap.

Drop Off

Pick Up

Back top Monday, at last I got a chance in the glorious warm sunshine to service the new JCB, suffice to say it took all day to get everything greased and oiled up to level. Next time full oil changes.

Monday Morning – A Full Day

Sunsets are pretty special here but lately the sunrises over Torridon are pretty spectacular too.

Torridon Sunrise

The only problem is getting out of bed!!

Torridon Sunrise 2

But as I am looking for stags on the move as the rut is not far off, I’m generally up early and was pleased to see the view on going over to Dry Harbour in the early morning.

No 3

We missed the ‘blood moon’ but it is pretty impressive at this level anytime.

White Moon

The young stags are on the move but up until this morning the bigger stags have not appeared (quite worrying).

At Last a Stag

The weather being so fine it is pretty much flat out getting everything ready for the coming winter.

At Last-Weather To Paint

It was good to get the roof of the bunkhouse done at last.

Looking Good

I had been smelling engine oil for a day or two from the bike, but I was thinking it was with me working on it. But no, it was a self tapper screw that had been used to fix the engine cover, it was too long and had through time bored a hole into the engine, so to-day I must get some liquid metal, seems that might sort it.

Near Disaster

Last night the evening was calm, another trip out to see if the deer were roaring or on the move, the sunset was not so spectacular but always good to see.

Tuesday Night Sunset

Off to Portree now, just getting the blog finished before I go. Glorious day, sunny and warm . For once I’m looking forward to the trip.