We hope that we have many friends and family out there reading this blog. One person who we never expected to read this was one of the most powerful people on earth. This person puts Obama or Putin in the place, and the likes of Geoff Capes or Hulk Hogan will quake in their boots when faced with the power of this individual. This individual is Mother Nature herself and we have been treated to the best of her gifts whilst on Mull and on the high seas. We think that she read the last blog where we mentioned showers and fish and decided she'd show us a thing or two.

We awoke on Ruffian to the sounds of seals and the gentle slapping of wavelets on the hull. We had slept like the dead. For the first time since leaving, we deployed the cover over the hatch above our heads when in our bunks. When, as a land lubber, you go to bed, you draw the curtains. This is exactly what the hatch cover has done for us. Ohh to be rested and relaxed and greeted by the awe inspiring beauty created eons ago by Mother Nature that surrounded us in Carsaig Bay.

Once we dingyed ashore and hiked up the hills that had surrounded us, we were shown the classic waterfalls that you would draw as a child. Blue skies, sparkling fresh spring water, a little rainbow at the bottom and a pool that was crystal clear. Iain always had piranhas in his, but thankfully these are not indigenous in the western isles, so were not present. The presentation of this beauty was clearly a message from Mother Nature that she could show Dunstaffanage marina a thing or two about power showers. All that was required was for Iain to drop all his clothes (not a pleasant sight) and take the shower that was presented. Mother Nature can certainly do power but she lacks a thing or two in the water heating stakes. Brrrrrrr cold cold cold, but unbelievably refreshing.

Refreshed from the walk and impromptu shower we launched Thug, our teeny tiny dingy at only 2 meters long and made for Ruffian. Within moments of leaving the beach we were splashed. This was not one of the rogue waves you hear of in the southern ocean, but the spit from a dolphin exhaling. The words breathtaking and heartstopping are usually used as metaphors, in this experience however they are used in their literal sense. Fiona and Iain felt tiny in Thug as these beautiful creatures dwarfed us and were swimming just inches away. Jumping and frolicking all around us. This is when we started to get worried about our previous blog entry where we aired our frustration at not landing any fish. Was Mother Nature was going to have a dolphin land on us? Quickly however we realised these are mammals and not fish. Phew. Mother Nature again had showed us that she is best with everything that she provides both on land and in the oceans.

The final gift that was bestowed on us by Mother Nature was a sail south to one of the most secluded inner isles, Colonsay. Geographically we are not that remote, Oban is only about 60 miles away, or 6 hours by car, but west of us there is nothing between us and Canada. Here we have found long sandy beaches, bathed in sunshine with not a soul to be seen. All we need now is a Planters Punch and we could have been in the Caribbean. This is all the more remarkable as Kiloran Bay on Colonsay is a very rare anchorage as you can only come here in light easterlies. This was the final gift of the day enabling us to have sunsets over the sea. Will we see the illusive green flash? Maybe one more gift from Mother Nature.

WARNING:- Explicit pictures contained below. DO NOT scroll down if you are of a sensitive disposition.

Ruffian safely behind the reef at Carsaig Bay.


Double take. Shorts and a gillet is Iain's usual attire.


Getting Timotei fresh under Mother nature's shower.


Fiona with Ruffian and rocks in the background.


The dolphins give us a very close experience.


Sailing downwind in the sunshine is all very hard work.


Passage planning continues. Not easy with easterlies and 5 knots of tide in the Sound of Islay.


Beaches and sunshine.


Bare feet on the sand. Summer is here.


Iain manages to grow another knee after falling over.