From Oban to Tobermory
A sailboat is a high maintance means of transport. A lot of parts can possibly quit service, in our case it is the windlass. We will have to deal with that today.
But first things first: We arrived at Oban in time to drop off Chanan, who had to catch a bus on Friday morning. We took our time to clear up the boat a bit, to do the laundry and to stock up on our supplies, and we had a look at the city. In the afternoon we expected our new crew members, Alex cousin Avigail and her husband Juda, to arrive. They will be joining us on our trip for the next 10 days.
Oban
Kerrera
Galeforce south-westerly winds where blowing in from the open sea, so we sadly had to give up the plan to sail to Islay today, this mekka for all fans of peated whiskys. Instead we explored the charming island of Kerrera on an extended hike.
Sailing north through the narrow Sound of Mull meant beating against the wind in genuinly Scottish weather, heavy rain alternating with spells of sun by the hour. We made fairly good progress, as there were no waves to speak of. Around the corner from Tobermory there is Loch Droma Buidhe (Drumbuie), a landlocked inlet and well protected anchorage. Here we wanted to drop anchor for the night, to give Juda, who is an ardent angler, the chance to catch some fish for our dinner. And here we realized the mischief with our windlass. We returned to Tobermory, one of the most popular ports in Scotland.
Tobermory
The Hebridean harbour of Tobermory is a postcard photographer’s dream. Brightly cloured pink, yellow, blue and gray houses skirt the waterfront, with the brick Edwardian style Western Isles Hotel looming over the whole like a Hitchcock castle. In places like these herds of tourist like us flock about the streets, peering into all the neat little shops displaying more or less endearing souveniers.
The history of Tobermory is greatly connected with the dreadfull era of the Highland Clearences, when the houses of crofters were destroyed and villages forcibly emptied to free the land for lucrative sheep. Tobermory was founded by the British Fisheries Society 250 years ago in an attempt to help feed the large population of Mull. But instead of making a living by fishing, the people of Tobermory became successfull merchants and tradesmen. All this I learned from the lady in the bonnie (the Scotish word for nice) little Mull Museum.
Catch of the day
3 Gedanken zu „From Oban to Tobermory“
Ich wünsche Euch, dass es schnell geht mit der Reparatur, so daß Ihr Islay noch genießen könnt.
Lasst Euch den Whisky schmecken – er schmeckt nirgendwo so gut wie dort, wo er entsteht:)
Alles Liebe
Angelika
Ich hoffe es reicht noch für Islay – wäre doch schade, wenn man so nahe am Mekka ist und die Kaaba nicht umrunden kann! Alles gute für die Reparatur und die weiteren Abenteuer!
Uwe
Habe auf MarineTraffic eure Ankerbemühungen mit Sorge beobachtet. What a pitty. Ich hoffe, dass ein guter Schluck erstklassischen Scotch-Whisky im pittoresken Hafen ein netter Ausgleich ist. Viel Glück und viel Erfolg bei der anstehenden Reparatur.
Schnappi 2