Our first week in Scotland

We were motoring across to Scotland when we got the news that Phil's mother had passed away. We had said our goodbyes while back in NZ and had discussed not flying back for the funeral but now it had happened, it felt like we were a long way from home and family.

The sun was shining and as we sailed into Port Ellen (named after a woman who died in the 1800's and shared Phil's mothers name) we had a grand escort of huge dolphins. It was as though her spirit was with us. She had joined us a lot over the years and had been very frustrated once her health prevented her from having such adventures. We will miss her.

Port Ellen has 3 whisky distilleries in walking distance!

The marina is community owned with great facilities and is in a perfectly sheltered harbour.

The square-sidedlighthouse had been built as a memerial for the Eleanor of long-ago.

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Our next stop was Crinan. There were a lot of boats using the canal which creates a shortcut to the Sound of Jura.

 

The landscape reminded us of Southland, NZ.

        

We motored out to Eileach an Naoimh, an island in the Garvellachs group, with it's snug little anchorage amongst the rocks. Onshore were the remains of a 5th centuary monastery where Saint Columba would go for a "holiday" from the hectic life at Iona. His mistress lived there and his mother was buried there.

It is only a short distance between anchorages so we can visit several places in one day. We soon learnt that we needed to study the tide tables or we would end up pushing a lot of current. Friends at home had given us the name of their friends Donald and Ali at Craobh Haven so we dropped anchor there and wandered up to their house to make ourselves known. What a wonderful, interesting couple and we have enjoyed many long hours of great conversation. Washing done, meals shared and books carted back to the boat....it has been a fun stop. Yesterday they drove us around the nearby countryside which is covered in sacred sites.....stones, burial mounds everywhere, people have been here for over 5000 years.... grand old houses and castles, long abandoned...

I know we have only been in Scotland for a week but I already love it as a cruising ground. There are so many places to visit that it is going to be hard to sqeeze it all in in such a short visit. The place deserves a whole summer spent meandering from one beautiful place to another. The weather is improving with more sunny days and much warmer temperatures so we are hoping for a good Spring.