The view from the Kilbride campsite was back over the water
to Barra and with a pair of Binoculars you could see Croft No2 Campsite.
However due to forecast bad weather all the tents were being put at the back of
the site in the most sheltered location and the hope that the couple of rows of
camper vans in front would provide some more shelter as well. Once more there
was a beach just over the road from the campsite but Hilda was most unimpressed
to discover that at high tide there was no beach left for her to explore.
The next morning dawned dry but blustery so we headed North
and East to South Lochboisdale to visit the Listening Place Sculpture and have
a short walk (it really was, only 2 miles) around the area. Then it was on to
Lochboisdale for lunch and a little bit of exploring before returning to the
campsite for Hilda to have a good run on the beach before the tide came in.
Hilda at The Listening Place
Meadow Pipit
As we went to bed that night there were 4 tents in a row at
the back of the site, the wind had picked up and now had gusts that were almost
gale-force. I remember hearing a car door shut in the middle of the night and
assumed it was one of the campers moving their car to provide a bit more
shelter as the wind had changed direction. When we got up in the morning there
were only 3 tents in a row. One of the campers had decided the wind was too
much and packed up in the wee small hours.
Hilda on the beach by the campsite
Turnstones
Our tent and the view to the rear of the campsite
It was still dry so the plan for the day was to start with a
visit to Loch Aineort. This is a lovely place to visit and walk, it is on the
East side of the Island so was sheltered from the wind. There is a small wooded
area full of small birds, mostly heard but rarely seen, which soon gives way to
heather and moorland with views over the water. This was where we saw our first
Sea Eagle of the holiday circling lazily high above in a patch of sunshine.
There was an abundance of wildlife back down on the ground too with
butterflies, moths, caterpillars, birds and flowers. There was evidence of
previous occupation of the area too, a lovely place in the summer but harsh and
unforgiving in the winter. We spent three or four hours pottering and exploring
the area, there was a circular walk which we started but when we started to
encounter lots of sheep and Hilda was spending more time on her lead than off I
decided we were going to turn back and retrace our steps to the car instead of
pushing on.
Sun on the Loch
Wren
Sea Eagle
Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar
Who used to live in a house like this?
Balancing Sculpture
Round Houses
We had the beach to ourselves
Sunset - the calm before the storm
The winds were now gale force with stronger gusts but my
mid-sized tent was still standing and all pegged down. One of the other tents
had gone but four more had arrived bringing the total to six, a couple of
people were also island hopping and after looking at the forecast for the next
day had decided to make the Barra - Eriskay crossing today rather than tomorrow
when there was a good chance the ferry would be cancelled.
It was an interesting night, the wind was relentless and
brought rain with it. Hilda slept through it all and I slept through a lot of
it. We were due to move on in the morning so I had packed all but the
essentials the night before. At 6am the rain stopped so I made a mad dash to
the utility block to have a shower etc. By the time I had finished the wind was
starting to ease and by the time everything else was packed away it had more or
less died away. From looking at the forecast the night before I knew it was a
temporary lul so made the most of it. I nearly made it, I had decided that the
best thing to do was to loosely roll the tent and put it in a bin bag rather
than try to roll it tightly to fit in its carry bag. I had got it all flat and
folded up and was just ready to roll it when the winds picked up again. Fortunately,
just as I had rolled it and was wondering how to get it in the bin bag when
someone in a campervan came out and, after spotting my dilemma, retreated back
inside to get waterproofs before coming to lend a much appreciated hand with
the final bit of the process.
