Isle of Islay Scotland http://isleofislay.posterous.com Information, blogs and images from the Scottish Isle of Islay posterous.com Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:21:00 -0700 First Day on Islay, the Pictures and the Story http://isleofislay.posterous.com/first-day-on-islay-the-pictures-and-the-story http://isleofislay.posterous.com/first-day-on-islay-the-pictures-and-the-story

Welcome here on the "Islay Holiday Blog". We arrived today on Islay on the morning ferry. The weather was beautiful and there was a strong wind blowing, getting stronger by the hour. The crossing was nice, the ferry almost empty and we had the wind in the back which carried us to Port Askaig in 1 1/2 hour. After the Jura Ferry was back in position we docked at Port Askaig. Back on Islay, a great feeling and the prospect of staying three weeks on Islay is wonderful! Off to Bowmore first to get the first necessary groceries and then a picnic at Loch Indaal, in one of the few sheltered places I know and no, I don't tell you where it is :-)

 

After we'd dropped off our luggage at the cottage I went back to Port Askaig to meet Gordon Homer, for the first time. It was great to finally catch up with him after reading about him and emailing with him so much. We had a nice chat and Gordon left on the Hebridean Isles at 15:30, just after the Isle of Arran left empty for Kennacraig. You can see the two ferries in the Sound of Islay in one of the pictures. At that same moment when the Hebridean Isles arrived the Islay Lifeboat came back from what I think was a rescue mission to secure a sailing boat in the Sound of Islay. Like I said, the wind was very strong and I wouldn't be surprised if more light vessels would experience problems on the west coast of Scotland.

 

I'm signing off now, I'll probably be back tomorrow with more images and the highlights of the day. Have a nice weekend and I hope you enjoyed the images!

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Fri, 21 May 2010 01:42:05 -0700 Trip with the Islay Lifeboat http://isleofislay.posterous.com/trip-with-the-islay-lifeboat http://isleofislay.posterous.com/trip-with-the-islay-lifeboat

Yesterday I was invited to join the Islay lifeboat crew on their weekly training session and what a fabulous trip that was.  We left Port Askaig at seven and just around that time the sun came through. The Sound of Islay was very calm and we headed towards McArthur’s Head for some exercises. I will write a full report on my Islay Blog in the next weeks but I did want to share some of the images I took already. It was an incredible experience and I want to thank the crew for inviting me yesterday evening! I will never forget this, it was the trip of a lifetime!

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Mon, 03 May 2010 12:46:16 -0700 Kilchiaran Bay Port Askaig and Dunlossit on Islay http://isleofislay.posterous.com/kilchiaran-bay-port-askaig-and-dunlossit-on-i http://isleofislay.posterous.com/kilchiaran-bay-port-askaig-and-dunlossit-on-i

The morning was spent at Kilchiaran Bay but not before having a coffee at Debbies of course!! As you can see the weather was beautiful. The afternoon was spent at Port Askaig and Dunlossit Estate where I saw a Painted Lady Butterfly during a walk up to Loch Fhada. See you tomorrow!

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