isleofronalog

After weeks of guests we just had our first week with the house all to ourselves. That gave us a chance to catch up but with two stags to butcher, last week was far from quiet. We got all the cuts done and frozen down but it is not all steaks, there is a fair amount of minced venison from the bits that don’t sell unless it is a burger or sausages. With a freezer full of burgers from the first stag that was shot the previous week we decided to make sausages.

All About The Venison

Basically the same mix as the burgers with a little more fat, we mixed it all up and then let it sit. I went to the fridge for sausage skins and disaster, no skins. There were packs of bigger skins but we had found that they were too big, 6 sausages weighing 600g!!! We made a few then abandoned the exercise as it just was not looking good. Back to the burgers. 150 later we finished our butchering for a while.

Tying the knot.

Our French visitors are on holiday but need to get onto the internet to do some work, funny how emails are very important even on holiday. There is some debate about wifi in the cottages and in fact in the Bay for the boat visitors and the more I think about it the more I tend to agree that it would be good, no one is forcing people to log on I guess, it would be a matter of choice, we will see.

Holiday Time

I keep thinking the internet is a bit like when mains electricity came to the more remoter places in Scotland and how that changed peoples lives, the internet is much the same. Maybe to a lesser extent but equally important. More important to me is the Chantrelles. It has been a good season so far and our French visitors are foragers, I pointed them in the direction of a good place but checked the place out first myself. Needless to say they never found it but a few days later in a round about way the stumbled on the place.

A Good Haul.

Talking about food I took in a fleet of creels last week  because we just were not getting the time or weather to collect them, I have to say the sea is very quiet too, not too many Dolphins or whales this year but I did see Terns on my way back from Portree on Friday (all 5 of them) , which was good to see. I heard their numbers took a hammering here years ago because of the Mink  but this year the Sand Eels are thin on the ground so it was a surprise to see them.

In For The Winter (already)

I had to empty the boat because there was a new ATV ordered from MacGregors Portree and Friday was looking good. Flat calm and dry, so with a trip looming it was good to get the boat emptied and washed out. I had the first bag of wool from our sheep to deliver so in an effort to keep it clean I gave it an extra wash.

Not So Quality Wool

Unfortunately the wool wont be the best quality but at least it is going to be of some use, nothing worse than dumping it. I left very early Friday to get there before the tourists had left their accommodation and started clogging up Portree’s streets.

Brand New

I did the shopping, the bank and the picked up the papers in record time. John from Macgregors took the bike down and with a bit of help from the FishFarm boys we loaded up and very quickly I was heading back to Rona.

15 knots

It was much calmer on the way back and the boat was flying along at 15 knots. I thought the bike at 300kg would make for a slow trip but not to-day.

Waiting for The Tide

The boys in Portree were wondering how I was going to lift the bike off, no problem, been there done that.

A Quick Lift

I was keen to get it to the shed to get it dry and give it a spray but the bit of rain we had was good at least it would wash the salt spray off it. It has been in the garage since (Now Monday!!)

The Sick Goose is Better Now

The sick goose seems to have got better, the rest of the family hung about with it and now they have taken up residence in the garden, what a mess and I don’t think George the cat is too pleased.

Saturday came, grey as usual but it did develop into a better day and at last late in the afternoon, sunshine.

Invasion

The Island all of a sudden became a very busy place, the three or four yachts that had come in had plenty crew so venison sales took off and after a busy changeover there was no rest. Ronan and family arrived late on Friday night on his yacht Aisling, they knew we were busy and left it till late Saturday until they popped up but we had calls from Kayakers who were coming, the first for a while.

Ronan And Seamus

So, we had a dash to get the bunkhouse ready. Not much time for socialising.

The Paddlers

The kayakers had gone into the water in Portree around 2.30pm and the wind was fresh from the South so they had a good run up, it was a lovely night and for once it felt like summer.

Kyle Rhea’s £20

We had a birthday celebration Saturday night so late on (around 6.30pm) we were heading up to the cabin for a drink and a movie (despite the sunshine). The crew of Yacht Kyle Rhea arrived up for showers, so we left them to it and they said they would leave their mooring fee and shower in the utility room. It was not until late Sunday that I spotted it on the wall.

Ab Fab

The same thing happened this morning when this Dutch crew on charter boat Ab Fab left their tenner under a stone at the top of the pier. Maybe there is more lying about, must have a look.

Enjoying The Summer Sun At Dry Harbour

It is good to be able to post some sunny pictures of Rona, at last. This week the visitors are having the best of it for sure. Last night promised a better day to-day with this sunset and we have not been disappointed.

A Sunset At Last.

Monday morning and it is all quiet after a busy week and an especially busy weekend. The weather at last gave us a bit of heat but sadly to-day it is back to a North wind and grey overcast. Later in the week it promises sun, we will see.

The Elusive Stags

I’d been out most days looking for stags but to no avail, they were always just out of reach and very aware with their early warning system (the Black Back seagulls). We were going out this morning but awoke to pouring rain so the stags won again. Venison is in demand with the visitors and I cannot keep up, we will be better organised next season for sure.

Fuel Delivery Prep’

Kevin and Pam were taking over much needed red diesel on Saturday so I had to load the IBC and gear to unload it. The growth on the boat had appeared again so I took the opportunity to scrape the bottom of the boat and wash of the weed. The weather had improved and it is always easier doing these jobs in sunshine.

Never a Dull Moment

I’d put the boat round on Saturday morning awaiting the delivery and delivered a can of oil to the red yacht in the picture, this young family helped us out a few years ago when we were building the cabin, their oil pressure pipe had broken on the way over from Badachro. So we were happy to return the compliment with a top up of oil. They are having plenty of adventures on their ‘wee’ yacht’ having been rescued a few years back by the Stornoway coastgaurd when they got into trouble of off the lighthouse up at Gairloch, undeterred they carry on enjoying their ‘alternative’ holiday choice.

Getting to be a Bit of A Dull Moment

It was a pretty calm morning but the threat of rain was never far away. I went over to pick up Craig and his familys luggage and had to stop to take in the clouds, rain and rainbow coming over the Old Man of Storr.

They Get About

The geese that breed here in ever increasing numbers certainly get about the island, they often swim round to Dry Harbour but they also like to take the road. We often get them mowing the roadside at this time of year. They will not be long in starting to fly by the way the young ones were flapping their wings.

The Olivers Depart

Hugh our master shearer was coming out on the Saturday boat that Craig and co’ were leaving on. We had bought (on Ebay for £53.00!!) an electric shears but I was told not to use it until he got here. So remembering the ‘Should have gone to Spec Savers’ ad’, I duly waited.

Fuel Delivery

Hugh gave me a hand to unload the fuel and we got down to shearing but not after a bit of a rodeo trying to pen the sheep. I had managed to get all the sheep in, but opened the gate to get two escapee lambs back in. That seemed a good idea but it backfired when a handfull of sheep who had been near the gate immediately ran out. But Bruce who arrived with Hugh on the boat did his impression of a sheepdog and rounded them up. By this time they were spooked and despite many hands the sheep gave us the run around, however after a fashion we got them in and then got down to serious business.

Lesson No 1

Hugh ably assisted by Angela showed me how to do it quickly and it looked, easy, much better than the hand shears.

Now, How do you do that , again??

23 sheep later I think I can see the picture but Hugh was so quick there was no point in stopping him, ah well there is always next year to learn.

The Stamper.

Bruce got the job of flattening the ‘quality’ fleeces, which we must do something with this year.

We got them all done and dusted, dosed with tick stuff (Dysect) and separated the lambs from their mothers, some of the yacht visitors were kept awake by the bawling lambs all night. But after 24 hours they quietened down, some have escaped to be back with their mothers’ so to-day’s job it fence repairing. After the shearing we had a few welcome beers and a good night round the table in Rona Lodge. L was up most of the night with toothache. Always the worst thing at the weekend and on an Island, we were trying to work out a strategy for getting to the dentist this week when a French Yachtsman arrived at the door. I mentioned that L had pretty bad toothache and he was happy to tell me that his wife was a dentist and was sure she would be happy to come ashore and have a look. One hour later L had her appointment and was happier after some very good advice which she was grateful for. There was no treatment, but after taking the advice L got a  bit of respite from the nagging pain.

The French Dentist

Hugh went away Sunday lunchtime, the sea was flat calm and the weather sunny but by evening the forecast had changed and it got very dark as clouds started coming in. We went out to see Castaway Claire and on the way back went over to our French dentist to say thank you. He had been telling me his boat was a one off, built to his specification after twenty years of sailing and it certainly looked impressive.

Yacht numbers are still well down despite the better weekend and double figures in here on Saturday night, it certainly added to the manic Saturday that it was. Hopefully we will have a quieter week, I think all last nights yachts bar one have left but I am sure after lunch they next lot will arrive.

Summer is making a brief appearance, Wednesday afternoon, but it is very windy 25mph+ SW so Claire should be ok out on her rock. We have not had a SOS yet.

I was out early this morning looking for deer, saw plenty but not one for the pot. It was pretty breezy which was good and dry, even better but the Black Back Seagulls were warning everything for miles. Quite interesting to sit on a hill with seagulls squawking above you and watching deer running away all around, even deer a long way away. They seem to hear from the gulls ‘the wolf is coming’ and they make themselves scarce.

Promising Morning

It was quite calm over on the East side with lovely clouds over the Torridon range. Venison sales are going strong and running out as we get it into the freezer, despite the weather and less visitors this year we are selling plenty of it. When I was out prowling I noted that  the path running down to the East side was needing strimmed so that was to-day’s job.

A Long Walk

Not the worst job in the world but it is a long one. Handy to carry the string and fuel with me (plus the water). When I got back to Dry Harbour the heavens opened and I had to take shelter in one of the cottages. Back to Base and the crew of Yacht Rona 2 were in the utility room having showers and washing after a week at sea. They were happy with there holiday but asking ‘is it always as cold as this up North’, they were from Oxford!!

Back to Monday, after a day of computers and paperwork on Sunday, I had an early start looking for deer, not a lot to see, just a few hinds and this years calves which is always lovely to see. The gulls on this morning left me alone. However as I was heading South I saw a Cuckoo, I though that they would be well on their way to Africa but no this one was still here, very strange. On the way back as I was spying for deer it appeared again and clumsily landed on a rock in front of me. A Pipit arrived and proceeded to feed it, it was obviously a very late chick. Super to see and incredible to think that it will soon be on its way South too. Round the corner and three crows were mobbing a peregrine, again it was a young one. But the young Peregrine was having none of it, it turned on them whereupon one crow landed and the Peregrine landed on its back. Of course I only had the ‘wee’ camera for both incidents, so no pics’ I’m afraid.

At 10am Craig came over with the family for a fishing trip. This time we were going to do a ‘Cook What You Catch’ boat trip. We have done them before but this was their first time for lunch.

November Lady

On the way out we got a big wave from Ian and Davie from Troon, Ian has been coming to Rona for many years and was one of my first visitors I met when I arrived here 13 years ago. Always good to see them, they are always full of fun.

Hungry Chap

We visited  Castaway Claire and got her news, then had two hours lifting creels, rod fishing and looking for the missing whales and dolphins. We did quite well, plenty Coleys but no Pollock (or whales). With some squatties and crab we headed in, sorted the catch under the watchful eye of my new pal, the hungry seagull.

Cleaning Crabs

Back to Rona Lodge’s kitchen where we cooked the crabs and dressed them out, made some Mayonnaise, cooked it all up and had a lovely lunch together, with fresh bread and a glass of wine. Just a typical Monday on Rona!!!!!!! The rest of the day passed quickly and first thing Tuesday it was back to the grind  servicing  both gennys. The Big Harbour genny has 19600 hrs since new (it came when I came) it is now 13 years on Rona. With the windmill, the batteries and the little solar power, the system is going well. Everything was going good for me too yesterday morning until I dropped the oil out of the machine and forgot to put the cap on the waste oil tray, disaster, now I have a very oily black floor. I had some oil absorbing granules but there was too much so a quick trip over to Big Harbour to get some and the clean up was underway. Both are back up and running and fingers crossed for a trouble free period.

Serviced

The heart sinks when you see the forecast for Saturday (changeover) is bad. This Saturday was a beauty, grey, wet, windy, cold and no visitors. Well they had been forecasting it all week so no surprise to see an empty harbour, Saturday morning.

Our hearts went out to Castaway Claire on the Island, she had spent most of Friday afternoon/evening holding onto her storm poles to support the tent but now the wind was round to the South West so she did get a bit of a break, but she did report it being very cold.

All week we could have been over to Portree in our wee boat, but Saturday was a no no. Kevin on MV Aspire was keen to try out the boat in this wind with passengers because it is after all an ex trawler and has probably seen some pretty awful weather and has many tales to tell. As it happened everything went well and it was a text book drop off and depart.

Waiting For Aspire

I took shelter in MV Rona calling up Kevin for instruction.

The Rain Stopped

After the boat came into the harbour the rain stopped, for enough time to get unloaded, over to Dry Harbour and back to Base.

Steve Took It Literally

I asked Steve my sister man, to take the jeep down to the Pier, I should have said to the bunkhouse at the top of the pier, he got stuck at the turn (thank goodness, it is a tad tight)!!

And They Are Off

The wind picked up but with a full tide MV Aspire sprung off the pontoon and headed for home, reporting a very stable sail to Portree in 30+ knots of wind, excellent.

We had been a bit concerned about the Yacht on the mooring being in the way, the crew had been caught out on Friday making for Plockton. The wind had got up and was making for a very trying sail. So they decided to come into Rona and were delighted to have a mooring for the night. Their dinghy had been burst, possibly be the result of being bashed by the transom. It was following the yacht rather than on the boat (I guess they will not do that again, it was quite a gash)

Caught Out

They got away Saturday night around 6.30pm.

Last week we caught up with loads of little jobs and it was great to have a willing helper in Steve.The grass had got out of control so we mowed down everything and it was good to see the gardens looking trim for a change. Usually the deer do it for me but this year there is so much grass they are in the forest. In fact after cutting the grass I went up behind the cottages for some firewood and saw three cracking stags running across the track. Nice to see. Cutting sticks in summer to stock up the depleted boxes is highly unusual but just a reflection on how cold it has been.

Filling the Boxes, They are well Used This Summer.

The water in the Lodge had become progressively darker so the filters were the first job after returning from Dry Harbour. They were particularly dirty and I can remember cleaning them not so long ago. No wonder with the rain we have had.

Dirty Filters

It had been a good week with out visitors, my sister and Steve were enjoying the ‘summer’ weather and relaxing, we had a bit of fishing and some lovely meals. We have a bit of a break for the moment with an empty house but it will all start again by the end of next week when we hope to clip the sheep.

Relaxing Sunday

As I write this we have had 5 yachts come into the harbour, all of them wanted the 1 mooring but unfortunately we have only 1. The sun is shining, at last, and it is a bit warmer. Just the job for a cuppa outside.

This morning I had three hours sorting out accounts and paperwork. Sadly neglected this month.

We will be out to see Claire tomorrow and have a full report on the state of play, many thanks for the cheques in the post for Claire’s charity and her total is steadily rising. A wee bit sun would brighten things up at the half way stage.

Claire our castaway is surprisingly upbeat despite the weather trying it’s best to spoil the show. The weather is now out of the East (SE). Battering the front of the tent. To give her ‘Vango 600’ tent a bit of support I went out Saturday to give her some bits and pieces, more on her page Castaway Claire.

Saying Goodbye To Bad Weather, but a great week

Fay and the boys who were in Escape last week left early Saturday morning, Dan was doing the run, Pam and Kevin were attending their son Callum and daughter in law Rachael’s wedding in Portree. What a day for a wedding but a marquee was up and well tested so I guess their day would have been very good regardless, we will hear no doubt to-day the story. It was a wet morning (Saturday) though and a heavy shower soaked our stores in seconds before I could get them to the house. The jeep had failed to start (I’d left the lights on!!!!!!!) after a whole day Friday ‘trying’ to fix the exhaust which had sheared off. I was grateful to still have the bike working but on cue it started to splutter and lost power, I have since then found water in the petrol!!

In Shed, DRY

Now there’s the problem.

Oh! Oh!

You have to be inventive here on Rona, so in this instance car jacks are no use. But the saw horses did the health and safety bit.

Now There’s a Car Jack.

Of course when I went to start the repair the JCB would not start, the battery was a wee bit flat. Then the rain started, it was all good but 6 welds to the exhaust later and it is back together. I can’t say it is sorted but at least it is not roaring away. So although the end of the week was a return to February weather the first part had been good although windy for Claire. Fay had even caught some sun. But it is depressing looking out the window in the morning to this, the only ones that are enjoying it all are the geese.

Heading out to Sea after Breakfast.

Every morning I get up we have a garden full of geese and their goslings, leaving plenty evidence of their nights visit.

Yacht visits are well down too. This is probably the busiest week of the year and on Friday night we Had no yachts in, no surprise. With wall to wall low cloud, rain and cold. There is not much pleasure in sitting it out on a yacht waiting for a sunny day.

Run Rig Arrives.

We heard all about it last night from Laurie and Alasdair on Yacht Run Rig, they have been cruising for three weeks and report only a handful of warm sunny days with hardly any boats about. They had been holed up in Portree for a couple of days with no desire to sail in force 4+ wind and rain, to Rona. Last year which was an exceptional year for visitors we had 80 more yacht visits by this time, what a difference the weather makes to it all.