To sea

The intention was to have a quiet day and as it started again with glorious sunshine, and the cuckoo, that didn’t seem too difficult. ( Reading my book Landlines it is suggested that the cuckoo is in decline, I don’t know about that it’s cuckoo central here! Definitely one in the house paddock/ garden but I’ve only seen it flying, they seem to be everywhere else here too)
 
A trip down to Badenscallie beach this morning we’ve thought we might see how the Acheninver trail went from there as we walked the rest on Monday but it ended at a firmly tied gate after a struggle over rocks on the beach.  One bonus was my first spotting of Oystercatchers, extra,  which is unusual up here. 
Also the information board points out the ruined buildings at the edge of the beach. One is the only remaining hanging lum (chimney) in the remnants of a salmon bothy and the remains of a cottage where a woman who was punished for standing up against the clearances was made to live off the Lairds lands, so they had to build here and it apparently flooded frequently at high tide. The people of Coigach are known for standing up against the clearances.

Whilst there we wondered if we could book a Summer Isles sail for tomorrow morning. They used to only run in the summer months but we thought we’d seen the boat out. Back at the house Chris gave him a ring and he said we could go at 3.00 pm today. 
Time for a chill, Chris had a nod rest and I went into the garden to do some sewing and then we were off to Badentarbet pier for the boat.
Only 6 of us on board but a perfect day for it. Surprised there were no seals (they’re all in Dornie harbour) but we did see groups of Shags on the rocks, a sole Great Skuar -  extra - and several Eiderducks. So nice to be out there in the sparkling sea. The LochSeaforth ferry passed close by whilst we were out there too we’d sat on the beach this morning watching it heading to Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis and now it was coming back.
I’ve included shots of Chris so you can see he is ok, thank you all for your concern. We ended the two hours in the harbour area of Tanera Mor. The trip used to go ashore here but isn’t allowed now, interesting, some questions answered many not. We heard from one of the other passengers that the same company have bought the Summer Isles Hotel and are going to pull it down and rebuild it.

Then back to our original plan, fish and chips in Ullapool, another fab day but perhaps not quite so quiet as intended.