Sadly time had passed and after 10 days and 11 nights island
hopping it was time to return to the mainland and head for home. The car was
re-packed and after a quick walk it was time to head for Lochmaddy and the
ferry to Skye. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the islands and will
return one day.
We stayed outside on the ferry, partly because all the seats
in the dog section were taken but mostly because it was a nice day. There was a
coachload of twitchers on the ferry and we had to go to the other side as they
were making us laugh (and Hilda was coveting their packed lunches), the leader
was scanning the skies with binoculars in one hand and uneaten sandwich in the
other all the time keeping up a running commentary on what he was hoping to
see.
Departing North Uist
I'm Trying To Sleep
The Spiky Hills of Skye
Round the other side we found peace and quiet and then some
spectacular views of Skye and the mountains. After disembarking it was time for
a quick walk for Hilda (and to let the rush of ferry traffic go past), a stop
at Broadford for a late lunch of fish and chips which were eaten while sitting
in the sun looking out to Pabay Island and the hills of the mainland beyond.
Just like the journey up we were taking two days to make the journey home, our
overnight stop was Lagnaha Campsite. A lovely place and there was only two
tents in the camping field. We had a gentle stroll after pitching up and
spotted a pair of Stonechats.
View of the campsite from our walk
Stonechat
Our pitch and the view behind the campsite
I had wanted an early start the next morning as it was going
to be a long drive and I didn't want to feel rushed. When we woke at 7am it was
raining, when we emerged for a trip to the utility block I discovered that
while we had been out on the islands the midges had emerged on the mainland. It
used to be that I never got bitten by midges then a couple of years ago that
changed and now I am the preferred option. Despite the pouring rain and a
liberal coating of midge repellent every time I came out of the tent I was
descended on by the nasty little blood-suckers. The original plan had been a
relaxed but not too leisurely breakfast and to be on the road for 9.30am, time
for a plan B. Hilda got her breakfast in the back of the car and while she ate
I shut myself in the tent and rolled up sleeping bags, folded blankets and
checked for anything else that needed packing away. They got put in the car and
the tent was then dropped and stuffed unceremoniously into the bin bag. We were
on the road for 08:45!
I have driven past the Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum several
times but never stopped. Today we stopped and while Hilda stayed snug and dry
in the back of the car I went in and had a cooked breakfast with a large mug of
tea - and not a midge in sight! A potter round the gift shops for me, a trip
round the grass for Hilda and we were back on the road, remembering to go South
and not West back to Oban. We travelled through lots of weather, glorious
sunshine that made me think about turning round and going back, grey drizzle
with low clouds that hid all the scenery and torrential rain that turned the
roads into rivers and dropped the average speed by a significant number.
We made it home for about 5.30pm and had the first load of
washing in the machine by 6.30pm. I was a wonderful holiday, even with the gale
force wind and rain. The odometer in the car reported that from setting off
from home we had travelled just over 950 miles before getting back.
