Neist Point

Once again it was a very early start this morning (no surprise there), and as we left the house at 5.00am it was -5C. We drove to the car park at Storr and we were the only car there. With head torches on we started the walk up the mountain path, which is very nicely laid out and a proper path not just a track, but it was steep. We had to keep stopping to catch our breath in that freezing air, and also as we got hot walking we did not want to get too sweaty as the air around us was bitterly cold. We made it up to the Old man of Storr and then carried on to the next higher up viewpoint. We did it in a quicker time than expected so we had to hang about in that cold wind waiting for the sun to rise and to reflect on Storr (see extra). By now there were a couple of other photographers, there was one woman photographer and her dog who we have seen every day at one of the various  locations we have been to. Her dog is very good and just sits waiting while she takes photos, she reminded me of Xena.

It really got so cold up there it reached a point where I just had to get down from that spot which seemed to catch the wind. We walked back down in front of Storr and took some sunbursts through the gap in the rock. Then it was a fast walk back down to the car park. We decided to stop off in Portree for breakfast - many cafes were closed and the hotel was only accepting residents for breakfast despite not being busy (?) - you would think they would want the business as there are hardly any visitors in winter. We ended up at a ‘greasy spoon’ for breakfast and while I did not recognise some of the things on my plate - lorne sausage, what’s that all about, it is hardly a sausage - but I ate the rest and it was decent enough.

Later we decided to go back to Neist Point to get some images from different viewpoints. We were hoping for a fiery sunset but again it was just some pink in the sky, as can be seen here. 

Tomorrow is an interesting day as we are going on to the mainland to visit the areas around Applecross and Torridon. No big hikes!

While this has been physically quite demanding I am used to exercise so I have just about coped, and I am pleased with some of my photos so I count this as a good trip. It does make a difference to be in the correct spot to take the right shot, and I suppose that sometimes that means you have to go out of your comfort zone to get there. Guy has been very helpful and I have actually learnt things on this workshop about camera techniques and editing of images.

In other news, I found out today that one of my prints in an exhibition has been sold so that was good news. 

Thank you to everyone who continues to look at my journal and award me hearts and stars.