Island 12 - Oronsay, 29th June 2014

Even the bike is tired in the hot sun

Farmed by the RSPB

The pictures of the Oronsay visit say it all really. This small island is off the end of Colonsay and can only be reached by crossing the sand at low tide.  Not at all suitable for bikes but since when did that stop this project?

Only accessible at low tide

Supporter Bill walks the bike back across the sand

It was a very hot day and it felt very desert-like on Oronsay where there is very little shelter.

This island is an important bird reserve and we loved all the black sheep which live there. I am not including pics of sheep in this very serious blog :-).

It was handy that the Colonsay Hotel had an outside tap so that the support team could wash the bike afterwards.

Washing off the salt water is part of the support package, it seems!

Island 11 - Colonsay, 28th June 2014

Delicious

The team at Colonsay backpackers

With Anne and Bill, I moved from Islay to Colonsay on the Saturday ferry.  This connection is only available twice a week and so is a big occasion for both islands. Indeed the planning of this whole trip involved careful scrutiny of the ferry timetables and checking that there was accommodation available to match.

Riding past the pretty Kiloran Bay

At Kiloran Bay

Our weather continues to be warm, dry and so sunny that even Bill is applying suncream occasionally. That the island had a 7 hour powercut on the Sunday was very inconvenient for those trying to provide meals for those leaving on the ferry but the staff were calm and as helpful as they could be.

Colonsay is owned by one estate and, whatever one might think about land ownership in Scotland, this leads to very integrated services.  We left the hostel and were able to leave luggage in  the hotel where we also enjoyed the 'pre ferry' menu, albeit simplified because of the absence of electricity.