So we picked two days to work on the boat, 1st day was beautiful sunshine and very very cold. So it was up the mast to reposition the WiFi, fit new Dirades, put wet and forget on the teak deck to clean, fit the new solar panels onto the coach roof and check the new fridge motor is working. The second day we knew it would be horrible weather 40+knots of wind and rain, so Phil was working inside with the solar panel connections and I was greasing the seacocks. Busy busy busy, glad to be home and having a rest now. Just need one mute trip back to polish the hull!!!

Due to the electrical problem plus we were returning home for the end of august plus the weather the next few days is very wet we’re going home. Set off from Gigha at 7.30am going around the mull (forecast winds very mild) then into ardrossan for 10pm, hopefully when we arrive they will be able to take Windsong out off the water in the next few days. I think we’ve had a great season, Phils not so sure, he felt as if we were in too many marinas but I think that was towards the end of the season so it’s still fresh in our minds or maybe I just like my comforts!!! Picture is of the boat in Gigha.

So decided to hire bikes for the day we’ve been on Gigha before but walked around the south of the island and always found the gardens and scenery stunning. I thought we wouldn’t take more than a morning but I was so wrong. So much to see and the paths had been extensively created for walking and cycling. Certain Paths were not suitable for the bikes so we left them at the intersection and walked either to a cave or to the beach or to a long abandoned village. The weather was beautiful. At every stop there was an information board about a wind farm or standing stones or fisherman’s cave. I would definitely recommend this island for a get away, small enough to explore in a week but big enough to have so many things of interest, we’ll be back!

Another favourite! We are nearly there! This is the last stop before rounding the mull of kintyre, it’s been such a mixed bag today, forecast was for calm but the wind against tide meant it was quite lively, plus rain, plus stronger winds than expected. Picture taken just before arriving at Gigha. Now the sun is shining and you wouldn’t think there’s been any wind. We call it parking wind, no matter what the worst of the wind always arrived when you are mooring. But we did a good job however it did feel like a race with another boat to get in even though there were lots of mooring buoys - buoys will be buoys!!! Anyway the plan is to go ashore tomorrow and explore one of the prettiest island, I wonder if it’s changed, last time there was a film crew here for Scottish tv, this year there’s a regular calmac ferry - how things change.(picture of the state of most of the journey here)

We set off early as there is a window in Thursday to go around the mull so we’re taking it so an early start not to Tobermory but kerrera (Oban) which would normally take two days but we are punching through one set of tides and should arrive around 7pm. Yet again the porpoises were playful (it’s as if they know we’re going!) and the minky whales are just too far away ti take a decent picture. The sun is hit but now (4pm) the rain is making its presence known - but cold at all which makes so much of a difference …. Tonight is shower night!! Wooo hoooo!!! Picture is if eigg as we motor past.

So as much as it pains us we are heading south where hot showers and shore power awaits (well there’s more of them!). Early start to go under the Skye bridge and through the narrows (Kyle rhea) as the tide can be very strong with whirlpools. So phil said how about I take the boat through, so with much trepidation I took the helm, using the autopilot to adjust our heading now and again, not in a million years thinking I could get away with it all the way, but the timing was impeccable (thanks Phil!) and as it was slack tide it was a doddle and then the fun began!! There is a basin after the narrows and the dolphins were in playful mood. What an absolute treat, you are always told never to sail/motor to them which we didn’t - they came to us. Playing under and in front of the bow, with little ones learning the ropes. Several times we saw two adults with a youngster, the young ones don’t have the finess, just jumping and flopping, so so funny. Arriving in Inverie to the forge once again seeing dolphins and porpoises and a minky whale on the way. Arriving just in time for the second day of The forges reopening after the community had bout it from a grumpy Belgium and renovated it. The atmosphere was jumping with a large pod of porpoises jumping in the bay, we enjoyed a pint or two!! The band that was at the dance was the same as r the one at canna. This time we’d had a few everyone was so friendly (population was 130, there was about 260 there!) thankfully we returned to the dingy just in time!! 10pm and the midgies were biting!!!! My ears are definitely burning!