isleofronalog

According to my diary we have had 7 days of gales and it is getting a bit boring, it is difficult trying do do things outside when you are getting constantly buffeted but sometimes we have no option. Just had a look at the BBC forecast, it is all doom and gloom with yet more gales and rain. The ground here is sodden and even on flat surfaces a problem walking without landing on a heap. Opening up the hen run is getting to be dangerous……..It could be worse when you see what the people in some parts of  Cumbria have to deal with.

Spindrift Coming

But there is still a beauty in the weather especially when we get a blink of sunshine. It was certainly cranking it up at the time of this pic’.

5 Minutes Later

5 minutes later and the house was shaking, nice view though!!! That was last Saturday and the outlook for this week was grim. We were looking for a ferry for our Christmas mail (fortunately we had stores over on the previous Wednesday) but here we were on Saturday thinking no more boats before Christmas.

The Last Post

MV Aspire had managed out on the Wednesday and just as well because it has not let up since. We phoned the Base up North and Qinetic in Kyle and asked if it was possible to get our mail out on the helicopter, we got the ok so we then organised Mike at Portree Post depot to bag up our mail and Graham and Rona who are looking after the Base for Christmas  picked it up Saturday. Looking ahead I was not relishing the trip up to collect it. But we had plenty to do in the meantime. The weather was foul which made it easier over the weekend to lock myself in the larder and butcher up the two hinds that I had shot the previous week, 200 venison burgers later……….

Burger Bonanza

We were running out of space, thank goodness I had cleared out the freezers over the past few weeks for box orders and presents. Lorraine stopped by the larder on route to the house with the Christmas tree, pines are a bit scarce so for as long as I can remember we have a birch tree, this year several!

Christmas Tree Delivery

At the end of last week I had had a request for photos to determine the best place for our proposed Solar Panels for the new house.It is not often we see this view of the house, the panels are to go up above the Lodge, between there and the Genny shed. There is a dip there, so that looks good for making them discreet although I have no problem showing the panels, they should not be considered and eye sore? I guess when the Genny is running we do not view the smoke/gas coming from the genny exhaust as an eyesore!!

From The Dip

The solar water heating, maybe on the rock above the house, we will see.

The Solar Water Heating Site above The House Site

The view is pretty good from here too and we look forward to making a start on the site in the spring (permission granted of course). (Latest: Applied for to-day 23/12/15)

Monday Morning Blues

Monday morning after checking the mink traps, we headed over to Dry Harbour to get the ‘Escape’ cottage ready for our New Year guests. The Chooks have been a bit freaky for some time so it was no surprise to catch a mink in the trap nearest the hen pen, so far we have kept this lot of hens alive. This is one of three mink this week alone. I’m afraid I’ll have to do a bit more trapping otherwise the mink will not leave a nesting bird on Rona. We have trapped many black mink, one white one, now a grey one. Resilient creatures but not welcome here I’m afraid.

The Grey Mink

Just as well we had no guests this Christmas with this weather they would still be in Portree, fingers crossed for next Monday.  We got to the cottage and the first thing I did was turn up the central heating. I was expecting the heating to kick in but no sign from the CH chimney. I went round to where the boiler is and the red warning light was on, oh Oh! Problems. A quick check and it was obvious that the heating oil had run out. I’m sure I checked it but maybe I did and thought I must fill this up before going to Germany. No worries, we had plenty and it had to be done. I would get it sorted in the morning.

Emergency Supply

I had the mail to collect at the Base and burgers to finish so first thing I headed over with two drums and got the heating going. I would check it on my way back from the Base.

A Break In The Rain

I had a quick cup of tea at 12 and headed up to the Base sharpish, the rain had been holding off in the morning as per the forecast, but the wind was getting going so I expected the odd shower. I got to the Base no problem but on the way back it absolutely poured and with 40 to 50 mph winds it was not pleasant but it was good to get some cards and parcels.

Winter Mode

I got back and George the cat who is in Winter mode was quick to say hello!! Very unusual as he seldom comes near me.

To-day it was back over to Dry Harbour to check the traps, get 1000litres of kerosene into the tank, repair the fence which was about to blow down and sort out the settings on the central heating. All done and then we spotted 3 escapee sheep on the hill south of Dry Harbour, so I guess there will be a rodeo in the next week or so as we try to capture them and return them to the field.

Not a sign of a deer for a few days, I have still a few to get for our cull numbers. I was disappointed to read in to-day’s Press and Journal (on the ipad) a story about the John Muir Trust and their deer culling in Knoydart. That follows on from the controversy up at Assynt where there is a similar issue.  I wondered at a conservation body thinking it all right to shoot perfectly good stags and to leave them lying on the hill, quite unbelievable. A quick google of John Muir and it makes you wonder what he would have thought of that!! Have a look:

John Muir Trust/Knoydart Deer Issue

John Muir Conservationist

Been a while, since we had a ‘Rona Post’. Having started to write this several times, the sun at last has come out and it is difficult to sit in ‘doing the computer’, but this morning Tuesday 15th it is a good morning but most things are up to date.

I returned to Rona a week ago now on Tuesday afternoon, late. The weather was shocking (on Rona) all the time I was away apart from a few three hour spells of calm (according to telephone reports). When I arrived in Portree on Tuesday last there was one of these calm periods forecast, It was looking like storms until  Friday if I did not get over then , but a glimmer of hope was given. It came as forecast  but to add to my stress MV Aspire was unavailable. Dan stepped in and as the light was fading we headed out of Portree in an ever increasingly calm sea. Amazing as it had been blowing big winds all morning and pouring rain.

A Typical Day During The Last Fortnight, From Our Window!!

Lorraine was home alone  for 8 days and was battered most of the time I was away by Southerly Gales, tough girl. L had intended to get off on Monday to meet me in Inverness  but the weather had other ideas, despite organising relief cover the storms were unrelenting so it was a no-go, but trips away at this time are a bit of a  lottery. So our relief did not relieve and we did not get our major Christmas shopping in Inverness.  All was not lost, I managed a bit of a ‘ blokey’ Christmas shop in a short time in Inverness, L stayed at home and on Tuesday late afternoon I got back to Rona.

Yet Again.

L’s biggest disaster was the Sky/Freeview dishes were both blown off their signal. Wednesday morning priority was re-connecting the TV. No Strictly!!

Testing The Wind

The wind had again cranked up on Wednesday, I only read 35 knots of wind at the back door, L had recorded 50mph from the same spot the previous week. Well it is the winter, nothing new.

Before I Went Away

On the morning before I left for Germany with an easy morning ahead we were disappointed to see one of the Valtos Ewes looking poorly. It looked like either the tup had been giving her a hard time or she had been lying on her back in a ditch, who knows. She had to be caught and sorted then one of the lambs decided to get into the bucket and wear it for a while. So for a moment in the morning, on the day I was leaving it was looking decidedly busy.

And Then Trouble

I did get away though, but had a long drive down to Glasgow via Connel delivering venison packs on route. The week in Germany was as usual hugely interesting, more below. But back to Rona! On my return, next day mega rain wind and gales. Mid day it was a bit subdued so I went for a recce, to see what level of damage nature had thrown at us this time. Surprise, surprise, nothing too serious, a bit of flooding.

Checking For Damage

The usual damage and things moved around but I did spot something unusual on the power tool shelf, A bit of damp was getting in, of course all around the small electric tools. That will not do the insides a lot of good.

It Would Have To Be Where The Electric Tools Live

The gangway tries its best to destroy itself. One day we will get it right. The pontoon had been pushed so far back that the shoes it sits on were trapped on the grid off the plate. Just waiting to damage it more.

Yet Again!!

Back to the TV, a wee bit of adjustment on the top dish but a complete replacement of the Sky one was necessary. All working now, better than it ever was. The small dish was very rusty so no surprise there but it could have picked a better time to break, thank goodness for iPlayer!!

Try Again

He ho, at last on Friday, sunshine. But not a minute to waste, must get the seaweed up to the polytunnel pile. We are planning two tunnels next year but no rush on that yet, plenty time in the spring when it hopefully dries out a bit more.

Sunshine At Last

And a dramatic light fading Friday night, even in the dark days there is much beauty in the nature of Rona.

A Better Night

That night Kenny from Shieldaig called to say he was coming over with Linda on Saturday to collect venison for Xmas, we were delighted to have visitors and enjoyed a good day with our Shieldaig pals having a dinner and catching up, good to see them. A new TV arrived with them and more polystyrene boxes for venison.

Seaflower Christmas Visit

Back to to-day, (That was Monday this week) another sheep was limping. So although we had planned a calm day, paperwork, Christmas cards, possibly internet shopping for Christmas presents. No! The sheep had other ideas, but once we got them it the limping sheep turned out to be a bit of heather irritating her shoulder. Removed, a wee spray and she was fine, but a lesson never the less to keep a close eye on them, her skin was pretty red where the heather was caught in her wool.

Lame Sheep

A fortnight ago to-day it was as ever very interesting to sit in an airport and watch the world go by, for me it is quite an adventure but for most around me it looked like they were going on a bus, perfectly normal. Once up in the air it was the best hour just enjoying the blue sky, we could do with more in this part of the world.

Good To See Blue Sky

I was staying first with some old friends from my pre-Rona days. Of course there is always sausage, they do make the best!!

Staying With Bruno

One thing I always find interesting in Germany is the way they organise their hunting, the way that the hunter has to interact with the forester and the farmer plus the connection they make between the management, the deer control and the nature (Naturschutz).

Naturshutz

In this area the forester and farmer have ‘dumped’ hundreds of tonnes of sand to create hillocks to turn the field into a wilder environment for the forest animals. It does not look much at the moment but there are signs of rapid growth. The earth around this area is traditionally poor and therefore returns are not so good. Giving it back to nature makes economic sense I guess as long as you get a subsidy!!

Deutsch Forestry

I always wondered how they protected the trees and here was a new fenced planting. Rather than fence off hundreds if not thousands of acres they fence acre or hectare sites for 7 years for the trees to get up then they remove the temporary fence allowing the deer and pigs back in. It works very well but of course the forest in Germany and economics of it are quite different to Scotland. But we do something like that on Rona so that the forest/trees are not under too much pressure from our deer, where we would like trees to get away.

Constant Reminder

The area I visit is very close to Frankfurt airport and there are planes from 5am until 10pm in the sky, one every 20 seconds they say. It is for ever noisy and does have the air of kerosene. Not too healthy I would think. These Airbus A380 defy the law of nature, they seem so slow and ponderous and to think of the hundreds of people aboard, a nightmare I could not even contemplate!!!!!

Asparagus

Again further round the corner here I found a new development, the farmer man was growing asparagus, the white one. I have never had it but they do say it is the best.

Roe Feeder

The system for roe deer management is completely different, they feed them (and the wild boar). This must sound strange as in this country we read even in the ‘conservation’ papers that deer here are considered no more than a pest, which is very sad for an animal which is an integral part of the British forest. These feeding stations are well attended and I guess it is not unlike the farmer managing his stock, the hunter/forester is doing the same with minimum human contact. I was told that during the very dry summer many hunters were taking water to the forest for the wild animals to stop them crossing the many roads around and risking accidents. Keeping them alive I guess.

The High Seat

Bruno my host is retired but spends most of the time in the forest, he had arranged with Rudi his 91 year old helper to take down one of the high seats that they use, it was no longer safe.

Going

It took a day to put up, days to make but was scrap in 10 minutes. Rudi was as fit as any 60 year old visitor!!

Gone

Stories about Rudi’s war days were very interesting, his time on the Russian front especially. My holidays in Germany are not normal for sure.

Christmas Market

Having never visited in December before I was keen to visit the Christmas market in Frankfurt. It was fascinating as was Frankfurt. But for me too many people.

Over The Bridge

We visited a few sites, I had heard about the padlocks on the European bridges but could not believe how many there were on this old bridge. No wonder they worry about additional stress on the bridge.

Waves of People

I was being a proper tourist but was glad to get out of it once we had eaten and bought some souvenirs.

Baufritz House

The second part of the week I was staying with Sophia and Peter, their new Baufritz house is fascinating as it is the only wooden house on site, the sites are small so needs must. But beautifully finished inside and very eco friendly. I was particularly keen to see it all and the plans so that I could steal a few ideas for our house. The outside cladding was spruce, which would be I think unheard of in this country.

Housing Scheme (estate) German Style

A walk on Sunday morning brought home just how many people live here in this area and Germany as a whole and how they maximise the building areas. Fascinating stuff, not the beer halls of Munich for me, a housing Estate!!!!!

Like I was Never Away!!!!!

All too soon it was back to the norm and I had to stop a week ago to-day as the rain was so heavy coming over the Moll into Sconser. What a contrast to the weather in Germany but I know where I would rather be,

Well I’m off tomorrow to Germany to see my old hunting pal. I was going to go in January but I’ve brought it forward, there is not much I can do at the moment (outside). But first of all I have to deliver venison, more later.

Holiday Time

Last Sunday we headed off to Inverness, shopping, hospitals, Doctors etc, etc. This is the time of year for catching up on all our appointments, visits and a chance to take up one of our wedding presents. We landed in Portree at 11.15am, 4 hours later we were at the ‘Albanach’ in Lochinver. It was a nice drive up despite the sleet, we could not find it at first when we got there then discovered it was not Albert Roux’s restaurant which I had in my mind but, as it turned out, this is the place to go to. A lovely location and by far one of the best meals we have had, ever. The owners are also self taught chefs but we thought that made the food even better. Here is the menu…………..well worth the drive.

The Albanach Menu

Off to Tain in the morning, then Cromarty to get one of the rifles sorted. I called at the gunsmiths in Cromarty, Colin the gunsmith had plenty news from all the Estates.

Cromarty Gunsmiths

I came away and saw our ghillie’s rig out in the Cromarty Firth, Wallace who does the stags for us in October was stuck in the Firth waiting for the oil industry to pick up and get back out to the North Sea. Must be a long three weeks out there looking at the hills where he would rather be. I gave him a wave but…………..

Wallace’s Rig

Over to Beauly to visit the camera emporium of Ffordes of Beauly, amazing amount of camera equipment. Eveytime I go there it is so busy (and expensive) but if you want a good old camera………………

Ffordes

I bought a lens………another one………to add to the collection.

Before we left for Lochinver, Tain, Cromarty and Inverness we had a busy few days on Rona. I had managed a bit of digging but the weather is certainly against doing anything major, then if you loose a pin it gets even more difficult.

Lucky Break

I had not fixed the stabilisers pin when I put it back last time, this time I did not see it falling out but I was so lucky, I found it on the road, not ‘lost it in the mud’. So that was a bit of luck.

Then I Got on With the Digging

I got it fixed and made a tentative start to the road into the house. But I guess it will be a wee while before I do anymore.

Here we Go Again.

In between the showers I had another (annual) attempt to fix the gangway, every year something happens. Hopefully the oak bar I put in below the flap here will help for a while until I think up something else.

Sausages

It is good to have some venison production at this time, every November is the same. We hope for a dry spell but it never comes. So this year we increased the venison production for the Xmas market, next year even more if everything goes according to plan.

November Weather

Just to add to the constant wet, windy weather, very cold Northerly winds came and the winter started proper.

Odd Good Spells

There are always breaks in the weather and when you get a bit of brightness it is lovely to see. Also when the sun comes up, it can be a promising start but ‘Red Sky in the Morning…….’

Shepherds Warning.

There it was on the Sunday morning leaving Rona in sunshine but it did not last.

Cheerio to the seals

It seemed like an age but we were only away for four days, we got back Thursday but as I was going off to Germany this next week there was an awful lot to do, mostly paperwork.

The Mail

In the mail there was a thank you card from the charity that our Castaway ‘Claire’ was supporting this year. It seems that Claire raised £2686.74. Well done Claire!!! The Burned Kids Charity were certainly very grateful.

Spotty’s Lamb

Apart from paperwork there is the stock to keep an eye on and it is early but we do give the sheep a wee feed just to give them a boost. This wee lamb, like its Mother is very keen to break into the shed for feed, we have to keep an eye on it for sure.

Julie

No show without punch!! Calling the sheep to-day to the feed and Julie (as usual) appeared out of nowhere and came straight to the feed. She had a big calf with her and for 15+ years old she is wearing well. In fact most if not all of our hinds we took in are still living.

‘Eejits Guide To The Genny’

Nothing much to get excited about outside to-day but as L is going to be home alone next week, she was keen for me to run her through the emergency procedures for starting the generator or inverter in the event of an outage. That took up a bit of the day, so fingers crossed.

Xmas Venison Box

Tomorrow I’m off to Glasgow, via Inverary then Edinburgh with ten boxes of Rona Venison and some of our latest merchandising, our Rona aprons.

The Rona Apron Demonstration!!

It will be two pretty busy days running about before I get into the airport and ‘hopefully’ relax.

Last thing after a dreich day, the sun made a late appearance.

Late Sunburst

That’s the latest out here on Rona.

It has been a difficult few days, getting the news about the terrorist shootings in Paris was a bit of a shock. Friday 13th, a black day. This time last year we were passing through Paris on route to London, it makes you think just how lucky we are to live in such a safe place. We may moan about the weather, being stuck sometimes but in comparison to the threat all around. Rona is a good place to be.

End Of Abigail’s Day

Storm Abigail kicked off Thursday, we took a walk out in the ‘storm’, up to the top of the hill to see how much wind we had, only to find the new anemometer was kaput. We have been out in much worse, a bit of a let down.

Looking North

The clouds were pretty spectacular though with the late break in the cloud. The forecasters had over upped the storm, I guess since it was their first ‘named’ storm we were expecting something special.

Late Sun

But, on an otherwise wet, grey and windy day it was good to get out of the house to stretch the legs and in a dry spell too.

Back to The House

The sun was really bright after a day when it never really got light at all, just briefly for all of half an hour, then it really got windy.

Blowing Hard

During the day it had been pretty blowy, the wind turbine was piling in the power to the batteries, in fact the genny has hardly been running lately.

The Menu

During the day I was saying To Lorraine, what about a white board for writing up things, like this weeks food, or experiments? Having dinner she spotted the glass doors of the cupboards, ideal.

Not Much Damage

We were up sharp, keen to see if there was any damage. Just the usual suspects blown about but nothing much for the noisy night we had.

fresh Snow.

There was a bit of snow on the Torridon hills and above the Old Man too.

We were preparing lunch when this hind appeared out of nowhere, it went into the field and started wandering around, looked as if it was looking for something. Then took a run at the fence. But stopped, very strange. It took a few steps forward then back, all of a sudden it leapt over and disappeared into the forest.

Strange Behaviour

Friday morning I headed up North for the mail. As the weather forecast was looking unpredictable we thought it better to get our mail out via the Qinetic helicopter, we had some spares I needed and other bits and pieces. It was good to visit our neighbours, we have not been up too much this year

Up North

I did not take the rifle, it was the morning after the Paris attacks and I just did not have the heart for any killing that day. Of course I saw lots of deer but sometimes it is nice just to look at them.

Xmas Orders

Back to Rona Lodge at lunchtime then up to the larder to cut up the two hinds I got this last week. We are starting to get a few orders for our Xmas boxes we deliver to the mainland, with Xmas fast approaching it is better to get ahead.

Off cuts.

There are always a lot of off cuts, not so nice bits and fat, which is not usual on a red deer but at this time with winter approaching it was good to see that the deer had put some fat on. When we finish up everything else we mince all the poor bits and freeze it for delivering to Munlochy Animal Aid when we get off, the dogs certainly live well.

Storm ?

I think that yesterday was as windy as Abigail, speaking to Portree to-day, they were in agreement that it was just as windy but this time the storm had no name. I had been butchering up top trying to finish up but failed to finish, the door closed and the radio on. I had been standing all day so needed a walk, so I had a short walk down to the pontoon. It was not so bad at this time, at least the spindrift had stopped, but looking at my camera just now it was certainly about, it is covered in salt spray, don’t think that will be good for it.

Storm Damage

I did see  the plate for the step onto the gangway had been caught yet again, the underside of the flap has square rod welded to it and if it comes off the plate then we have a problem, despite Hugh welding it up last year. I thought I would sort it out when it was dry, possibly Friday. But, when I went down later to-day I noticed the shoes it runs on were trapped below the corner of the main plate. So with more wind forecast for tomorrow there was nothing for it but to get the jack and try and sort it out. It is a real pest and I must find a better solution.

Temporary repair

I got it back onto the plate and now after looking at for a while have decided on a course of action. One last job though, get the firewood into all the places we need it, most importantly for the cabin.

Stocking up.

Spot the bottle of wine………….

To-day, Wednesday (Yesterday now) it is the calm before the storm, for sure. After a pretty noisy night with rain waking us up at 4 in the morning it was a surprise to see the sun when the light came in, it is day two of the hind stalking, quite a bit to do but as usual the hinds are elusive.

Bright Walk In The Forest

Since Clive and Ali left last Thursday it has been pretty mixed weather, strong winds, nothing too severe. We put the sheep into the field with Mr Tup , but with no cover from the wind that was forecast on Friday so we let them out. The 6 Valtos ewes decided to stay though.

Let Me Out

Saturday dawned, quite a good day. Not the wind that was forecast, just the odd shower, by 5 o’clock it was quite a pleasant night. Nothing else for it but to have an outside fire and a wee weekend drink, we enjoyed a couple of glasses of red then a movie. Walking home later it was clear skies and very mild.

Saturday Night Out On Rona

Sunday, it was a different story, a typical November Sunday, nothing for it but a day inside, fire on and catching up.

Out The Window

With so many lists of things to do the day got lost in piles of paperwork, emails and calls. Monday was a better day again. One day good one day bad. With the wind pushing the seaweed in I headed down to the shore to get some for the new polytunnel that we are planning in the Spring. But when I got there I just managed two trailer loads. Two days before I thought I would need the JCB and tractor to pick up the loads of seaweed  on the shore there was so much,  but unfortunately the tide had lifted it. However I see there is more there to-day (Wednesday). Probably more coming.

100% Natural Fertiliser

We had a pile of earth up by the poly tunnel and added the seaweed to it, the salt will soon wash out and we will add to it over the winter. We hope to get a new plastic cover for the old one and a complete new tunnel in the spring, we missed the veg’ last year for sure.

Mulch Away

Yesterday (Tuesday) was day one of the hind cull  to keep the balance and the health of the herd at an optimum level we have a cull figure we would like to achieve.

Rubbing

Although a grey morning it was pleasant almost warm. I had left the harbour just as swans, fresh from the North, took off and headed further South.  There has been quite a few flocks of birds and Geese passing this last while. They know the weather better than all the computers, I guess they were on their annual flight to the South before this storm arrives. The Island is busy with stop over birds just now, I think Redwings were about but I cannot be sure. Lots of LBJ’s too. When I got to Dry Harbour with the rifle on my back I had a moment when I started thinking about past conversations about killing deer. Some of our visitors did not like that and that got me thinking about what I was doing to-day and how on Rona when I have people asking about this aspect of Island life, how, sometimes you don’t engage with the debate, other times you try. But often my answer does not seem to convince.

It was when I saw the ‘thrashed’ tree that I thought. Here is an example. A willow, a poor tree, many people would just walk past it but to me it showed that the stag was here, he was colouring his antlers. For me it is amazing to think how does the stag know that the Willow gives him the most colour, the Pines give him colour and resin, the birch, I don’t know. Perhaps he gets some, dare I say ‘Asprin’ from it. Yes the deer have a go at trees, browse them and can, in Commercial forests do a lot of damage but the Red Deer are a forest animal, there in nature doing there part in the eco system. Our part is being the wolf!! I think that for  stalking/deer management/ the walk in the forest is not just about killing. It is about learning and every walk teaches me something new. We have a duty to the deer herd to manage them to our highest standards, this is our job and hopefully as long as I am here I can do that

The deer were ahead of me in the forest when I carried on, I saw the first rump of a hind disappearing off to my right through this windblow. Often I am asked, “why have you got deer when they damage the trees”. It is a bit of a daft question, but it seems the way of the world when our iconic ‘Scottish Red Deer’ are treated as though they are vermin (according to the popular press). Here in front of me was an area of winblow, much more damage than any deer could cause, the ground is saturated, the root system is weak, the wind blows it over. So yes, the deer do eat young trees, browse older ones and thrash some. But nature, windblow, windburn and fire, to name a few can cause far more damage in a short time than any herd of deer.

The rest of the day and the next I spent ‘on the hill’. So good to be out in the wild alone doing what I like best. The challenge to find the ‘right’ deer and taking in the landscape. It was a good two days, sometimes I regret not being able to share it, other times it is good to selfishly have it to yourself.

Anyway, I’m off on one so I must get on and have a look around before all these storms arrive proper (or the internet goes off). More later.

Windblown

For More on the ‘Rona Red Deer’ .

On a grey morning last Sunday I took the final trip out on the MV Rona. My last chance for a spy along the shore to see if any of the stags were hanging about. But, it was dour morning and so I gave the engines a good blast then made for the shore to catch the tide.

Last Trip out

Before hitting the beach I took a look up at the gut East of the house (we found a dead Minke whale in there one October years ago, just before we put the boat out. Which was good, otherwise I would have had a pretty smelly Big Harbour over the winter. We towed it away!!!) Pictures to follow at a later date. As it was the Aspens fairly brightened up a bleak morning.

Autumnal Colours

The new (to us) JCB is much kinder than the old one, much smoother, less jerky and less likelihood to smash a window or something.

Operation High and Dry

This year I tried to get the boat up on rollers but the weight smashed one of them so I had to resort to the old ‘raft’.

Back to The Old

In the middle of it all MV Spindrift appeared on its final day out of the season, the new owners first time on Rona. They vacated the pontoon just as Kenny arrived with a walking group from the Torridion Walking Festival.

Comings and Goings.

It was good to have a few visitors despite not getting my jobs done for the day, Gill our architect was coming on Monday to see the house site and position it to suit, so there was prep’ to do for that. I abandoned the boat for later in the week. Aware that the forecast was taking a dip.

Monday morning First Thing

Gill had a better trip over this time, the wind quite light from the South, but it absolutely poured until she got back on the boat, then it was quite a nice day, typical.

Liming Sheep

We noticed looking out the window at breakfast that one of the Valtos sheep we got lately had a limp so they were next for an inspection and dose. Their feet were pretty messy compared to the Rona sheep. I guess the rocks do a good pedicure job on their feet out here. The limper was quickly sorted out and her ‘claws’ removed. They are still quite skittish but are coming round, they are soon to go to the Tup.

‘Trying’ To Sort out The Septic Tank.

Next on the list, back to the septic tank. There is an  ‘odour’ which is quite annoying after ‘fixing’ it. But a quick call to Hugh and with his advice I tried something else, it seems to help but L was not convinced. I guess we may get a new one further away from the house when we build the new house that will do both houses, we will see.

There will be three

The boat was slipping down the list and in among it I got the first puncture for a while, I whipped the wheels off so that Kevin could take them over to MacRaes for replacement. A thought ran through my head, punctures always come in threes around here. Sure enough next day, the jeep rear was flat. The stones are pretty sharp on the road I guess there must be one like a knife out there.

No 2

I got the jeep fixed temporarily but will have to change the tyre this week for our caretakers coming to look after Rona whilst we are away. These cord plugs are a Godsend out here. They have got me mobile more times than I care to remember, highly recommended. I guess you can get them on the ‘net but we got them from ‘Dingwall Tyres’.

Great Things These Plugs

Once I got these ’emergencies’ out of the way I then got the boat up on legs and level, ready for some pre-winter maintenance. Also, the forecast was not good with the first gales of the winter arriving next day. So off I went and tied as much down as I could.

Boat out

Next day it was a house day catching up on paperwork, a horrible wet and windy day, not gale force but strong enough. However during the night it really kicked off and there were some serious ‘wumffs’ not a lot of sleep. First thing Thursday a quick look around and the first thing I saw was the JCB had lost its number plate, nothing serious, just nature clawing away at us. Up to check the genny in case of lightening strikes and I saw why the TV had been giving us a problem the previous evening.

2nd Casualty

Although not serious it did take a while to put back and I lost an afternoon messing about with the new dish which on hindsight was a bit of a mistake getting a solid one. I should have stuck with the mini mesh dish.

Breakdown No 3

Back down to try and finish setting up the boast and fixing the second leg when puncture no’ 3 happened. Well not quite a puncture but enough to throw the plans out the window. I caught it on time as it could have gone the way of the last one when the pin came out of the pads. Then the ram dragged along the ground and cost quite a bit to ‘unbend’. I fixed this next day and eventually got under the boat for a proper look.

Unbelievable growth.

The boat had been quite slow lately and here is the reason. I’ve never seen such growth in such a short time. I had the boat out of the water for a clean around about 6 weeks back, maybe less. So I was quite surprised to be faced with this, although I did not anti foul it last winter or spring. The paint is obviously not working. We should rectify that soon.

Friday was a grey day, more wind and rain but we managed to dodge the showers and get a few things out of the way.

Saturday’s Changeover.

Bluebeard and his pal Mel were heading off after a great fortnight of peace and quiet. Well apart from one week of roaring stags outside their house. Quite a thought to be heading back South but their fortnights get away from it all (internet, phones, cars, people, etc etc) should revive them and set them up for the winter.

Now here’s a story: Saturday afternoon I saw the lifeboat heading straight for our harbour, but then it disappeared. I shouted to L to switch on the VHF to see what was happening. Turned out a walker, staying at the Raasay bothy had gone onto Eilean Tighe first thing and his dog (still on the lead) had taken off after sheep, last seen chasing a sheep to the cliffs. So for the next two hours we were hearing about attempts to find the dog. I was going South looking for deer that afternoon so I headed down to An Tempuil right at the bottom of Rona looking over Eilean Tighe, earlier. All I could see when I got there were 7 sheep staring uphill, they may have been looking at some of the crew of the lifeboat who were ashore looking for the dog, either that or the missing dog. It turned out the dog had been missing for 5/6 hours. The owner had gone back to the bothy for his gear once the dog disappeared and returned, then was cut off by the tide. The dog still on the loose.

We got a windy phonecall from the owner asking if we had ‘spied’ the dog and where? It was quite dark by the time I got the call (although it was dark when the showers came through during the day). He said he was going to spend the night on the Island, looking out the window first thing this morning I think that would have been a grim night out.

Eilean Tighe Black with rain.

Last thing we heard, the lifeboat left the scene with the owner trying to find his dog, goodness knows how the sheep are faring.

Never a dull moment out here.

Update; Dog still missing, owners phone battery dead. Just had a call from family in Manchester asking if I knew anything!!!!! Oh, and absolutely pouring from the heavens.