Island Hopping

What a busy social whirl we live in!  Almost as soon as David and Hilary left us in Stornoway, Alistair joined us.  He's leaving us tomorrow (Wednesday 19th) and my cousin Peter and his wife Sarah join us briefly - in an intermission from their sea-kayaking in places we don't dare to go.  And then we meet Jim and Mae in White Magic - our old boat - next week.

Oh yes - and we've been exploring the Outer Hebrides.  We've passed most of the chain and stopped in Lewis/Harris and several Uists.  For the most part we've had lovely weather, which has been great for walking - we made a good attempt at Hecla, but were thwarted by a combination of cloud, lack of paths and Val's frozen shoulder.  And sheer indolence of course.  We've stopped in some lovely wild and isolated anchorages - and made rather closer acquaintance than we intended with a rock in one of them!  No harm done, we think. On the western side of the islands there are a succession of long white sand beaches - where we have not ventured into the water!  Communications have been non-existent, which should excuse the lack of blog activity. 

We're now in Loch Boisdale at the bottom of South Uist.  A tiny but pleasant place - and well sheltered against the weather which seems to be breaking.  As usual we try and eat and drink well between excursions but have been disappointed that all the fish and seafood from hereabouts goes to the mainland - literally without touching the ground.  It's particularly irritating, given the amount of effort we spend in avoiding lobster pots, that we don't even get a chance to pay for their contents!