Castlebay

Today's the day .................... to sail the ocean blue

I have to say that of all the things planned for this holiday, I wasn't looking forward particularly to this bit of it. 

Not that the ferry journey from Oban out to Castlebay on the Isle of Barra isn't one of the most scenically picturesque of the Outer Isles crossings.  The first part takes you tantalisingly close to the islands of Mull, Coll, Tiree, Rhum and Eigg, to name a few - and the passage is protected and calm.  But then after that, you are out in the sea proper and things can get rough.  It's one of the longest crossings too at more than five hours - and that's a long time to be seasick, if you're as hopeless a sailor as I am!

However, a combination of perfect weather conditions (for the second day in a row) and the help of all the seasickness remedies known to mankind that money can buy, resulted in an awe-inspiring and very enjoyable voyage.  The 'Isle of Lewis' did it in record time - and considering she's a boat that can easily accommodate a couple of hundred passengers, whereas there were less than fifty people in only a few vehicles - we had masses of space to ourselves.

The above is the view of her, berthed for the night in the small harbour at Castlebay - taken from the window of our room in the hotel . . .  . . . . . . .