Our lunch spot after Malin Head, a perfect day with a perfect view and a lovely level patch of grass, we were very tempted to stop and stay the night.
We were closing in on the border with N.I. and were gently quizzed by the Garda as to where we had come from and where we were going.
Sharon and Lynn are relatives of a friend of ours in Tasmania, and we met up with them in Portrush. They very kindly treated us to lunch. Thanks! We still had perfect weather and perfect tides for our planned crossing of North Channel to the Mull of Kintyre so were sad we couldn't take them up on their invitation to tour the Bushmills distillery and other local attractions.
Yet another fantastic tiny little sheltered harbour at Dunseverick.
Great camping, absolutely nobody taking any notice of the sign.
Approaching the distinctive shape of Fair Head with the Mull of Kintyre visible to the left.
In the eddy formed by the tide race off Torr Head looking back towards Fair Head.
Tiny little harbour and slipway on the eastern side of Torr Head. Our departure point for crossing North Channel.
On the water at 4.30am. We couldn't have asked for more perfect conditions for the crossing, no wind, flat calm sea and smack in the middle of the neap tides. The early start was necessary so as to be off the Mull at slack water to then catch the north flowing tide to our landing at Machrihanish.
A few kms off the Mull of Kintyre at about 7am, unbelievably calm.
First landing in Scotland (wee break!) and the gravestone of an unknown sailer from 1917.
Ashore and camp set up at Machrihanish just in time for the pub to open.
The Haggis Nachos were delicious so too was the beer.
Up at 3am, 36km paddled, delicious food and beer for lunch - time for a nap.
Alan and Roger appear out of the mist at Craighouse, Isle of Jura.
Alan and Roger had had a long day, virtually all of it navigating in very poor visibility.
Andy meeting up with us the next morning with our Special Delivery
Tough paddling conditions.
We saw quite a few otters along the west coast of Jura, including two that seemed to be having a vicious fight. Eventually the loser was driven off, escaping inland.
Lunch spot on the west coast of Jura.
Alan with the Paps of Jura in the background.
Campsite at Shian Bay.
Otters are very timid creatures, we were very lucky to get this close.
Leaving Oban at 9.30pm having restocked with food for our trip around the Isle of Mull.
No comments:
Post a Comment