Owner:
squiz
Member
Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3070
|
14th July 2013
Windsurfing: Back-Lewis Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: cloudy then rain :( Max Speed: 26.12 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered:
Sunday 14th July – windsurf (Back in Lewis) *** - cloudy then rain :(
26.12 kts – Fanatic Cat + 8.5
Another gloomy day at our lovely Garry beach, down to the beach before
breakfast because amazingly there was a shiny patch in the sky and the tide
was out so we couldn’t resist and did our exercises and saw the sun for
30 seconds!!!!
The wind had been building since yesterday but haven’t found anywhere to
sail on this huge island of Harris/Lewis and as we did nearly 300 miles
over the last couple of days – too many dead end roads:( and we now
can’t wait to get on the ferry home tomorrow, a month in the Scottish
Islands in poor weather is just too much and we don’t think we will be
returning – we need to return to summer – more like Autumn up here:( So
I just drove 10 miles back toward Stornaway to the only stop I could park
near the water and with the wind cross off I didn’t fancy risking the
shortboard and sail choice was a nightmare so took a chance with the 8.5
and it was okay – a bit under then a bit over:( I started off with a 3
mile reach to the other side of the huge way and it was choppy in the
middle. I then beat up to the airport in search of some flatwater but with
no luck but found a friendly seal :) + all the usual birds –
gannets,turns,razorbills,gullimots and even a skua!!! I was just setting
myself up for a mega reach back to the van when I hit a mooring bouy
rope!!! and went off the front of my board:( the board went one way, the
sail the other !!! I managed to swim after the board and found I had broken
yet another uj – that’s 3!!!! I swopped it for my spare which is in
poor condition and sailed carefully back and packed up – I also put a big
hole in the front of my board:( I then struggled to get the boards back on
the roof in the wind but managed before it started to rain!!! Then back to
Garry beach. By the time we got here it was raining and it rained for the
rest of the day. We were saying that the occupants of two vehicles on the
beach were hardy souls because they were on the beach for ages in the rain.
Then a range rover appeared and came roaring past us to the bridge,
followed by the white van that had been in the car park reversimg up. We
thought the three men were looking for somewhere to pitch a tent but they
suddenly appeared with a film camera, sound equipment and walkie talkies
and started filming long shots of the beach from all around us. We can’t
believe it - that is about the sixth time that we have been somewhere where
a film crew turns up! These people sounded foreign so have no idea what
the footage is for but they must agree with us that Garry is the perfect
beach. They must have been filming around the rocks and cave when they
were on the beach. We played cards and the day past quite quickly so
didn’t have time to get bored.
Monday 15th July – Ferry to mainland
True to form it is a grim morning in the Hebrides, lots of low cloud and
drizzle for our last day. We did eventually go for a walk up the path over
the bridge so we had a good last look at the lovely Garry beach. Left
about 11 and drove to Stornaway ready for the ferry. Went to the co-op for
a few bits and also filled up with cheap diesel on the way. Drove round by
the castle to kill some time and ended up on a road which we think was only
a track for walkers! Went to the ferry and it had been delayed so ate
lunch in the queue and made sure we took tablets! Eventually loaded and
left about 40 minutes late. It wasn’t a bad crossing; we sat outside at
the back all the time. Watched Lewis disappearing in a grey cloud and
Ullapool appearing in one 3 hours later! The ferry comes in right in front
of the B and B we stayed at when we were here 31 years ago! Drove round to
a place we could park, have a snack and watch the ferry go back out again,
before setting out on our long journey home. We only wanted to get clear
of Ullapool so drove for about half an hour and parked up for the night
near Corrieshalloch Gorge. The view down the valley to Loch Broom is
beautiful and…. the sun is out and the temperature is up to 21 degrees
already! Saw a buzzard as soon as we stopped and then a siskin landed in a
tree right next to the van :) The temperatures down south are still
ridiculously high and it is supposed to stay like that for at least a week
– we will be moaning about the weather again for different reasons soon!
|
Toys Used:
Statsbar:
About MY Statsbar
|