Island 13 - Coll, 30th June 2014

Here we are on Coll, having survived a very early start. Stayed at the newly refurbished SYHA hostel in Oban between island ferries.

Flat, open roads with great views

We met a German couple who are not young but obviously very fit and strong.  They are biking around Scotland for four weeks and are carrying camping stuff. We feel like lightweights beside them and tried to remedy that by introducing them to scones with butter, cream and jam. They think we are being nice but we are just trying to even up the scales, so to speak.

We are very pleased with my B&B find -Tigh na Mara. We can recommend it for friendliness,  comfort and stunning location.  It's also very close to the ferry. I'm fantasising about coming here in winter. It would be warm and dry with same wonderful views.

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.

Island 10 - Jura, 27th June 2014

On a lovely sunny day we took the little ferry from Islay to Jura. Jura's name means Deer Island and there are 5800 red deer on the island. It's quite flat but didn't feel like that with a head wind. When we got to the only town, Craighouse,  that 8 miles was quite enough.

After nice coffees at the Jura Hotel we checked out the distillery,  of course. I bought yet another tee-shirt. Then, suitably refreshed,  we pedalled a flat bit along to a gorgeous beach where all four of us went swimming. I was the only one who had planned to do this so the others managed in various ways :-). One of the decent pics will be on my travel blog as soon as I can get that updated,  given the technical challenges here on the islands.

Island 9 - Eilean Mor, Finlaggan, Seat of Lord of the Isles

The Finlaggan team

Delighted to discover from the lovely owner of Persabus Pottery and Café that Finlaggan, the seat of The Lord of The Isles, is actually two islands. One is accessible by a wooden causeway but the other was only possible to reach by a set of underwater stones carefully placed there many centuries ago.

The MacDonald lords commanded from this power base for ages. It's a real gem of a place and should be on  'don't miss' list for any visitor to Islay.  Its quite a long way from the road so we were glad of our bikes. 

We biked and photographed ourselves on Eilean Mor, which has lots of ruins and useful information boards.  Thrilled to tick off another island and one so atmospheric.

Island 8, Islay, 24th June

At Bowmore Harbour

My favourite tipple.  Lovely to be here

Chilling Islay,  Port Askaig

Biked Islay today with Anne Tavendale. We had such a lovely day exploring some of the roads and distilleries, of which there are eight.

Choice of ferries

One of them, Bowmore,  sits in the oldest planned village in Scotland - it dates from 1768. It has a round church so that there are no corners for the devil to hide in. The distillery here is the second oldest in Scotland.  Lovely drink,  though my favourite remains Bruichladdich.

It's a perfect island for cycling.

Island 7 - Arran, Scotland, 21-22 June 2014

With support team Mehrab and Willie

On a glorious  midsummer weekend I cycled quite a lot of Arran with this great support team, Mehrab and Willie. I was particularly thrilled to have Willie as he is the grandson of Mamie Martin, in whose name the support of girls' education in Malawi continues though the Mamie Martin Fund.

Back to the cycling.  We had a great up-and-down day on the Saturday.  The most memorable event was being overtaken up a hill by a (motorised) wheelchair. It was all downhill from there.

Willie left by the infamous String Road,  which Mehrab and I took the next day. It's bad but the view from the top is wonderful. After introducing Mehrab to Arran beer, I went onto Lochranza by a horrible hill into the wind. I collapsed exhausted into the lovely SYHA hostel there. Islay is next.

Arran 20th June

 Arrived on Arran in glorious sunshine. What a busy ferry! Getting to my B&B gave me an early taste of Arran hills.  I anticipate sore legs tomorrow evening.  And the next day.

We are biking this island over two days - one of my more sane decisions, methinks.

I bought this tablet so as to be able to update this blog every evening.  I'm still learning how to use it so bear with me.

Setting off on midsummer adventure

What a lovely send-off from my Intervac house swappers, Sean and Steven,  as I head off to the West on a gorgeous day.

Plans so that you can join in

Midsummer is getting close and so is the Midsummer Odyssey which is planned as below. It will be a leisurely cycle-stroll with plenty of time for admiring the views and checking out distilleries.

Friday 20 June	Train to Adrossan and ferry to Arran (Brodick).
Sat & Sun 21-22 June	Cycle around Arran – 54 miles around, staying at Blackwaterfoot Lodge on the Sat night
Mon 23	Ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig (very regular, including Sunday), cycle across to Kennacraig (6 miles) and take ferry to Islay (Port Askaig) (1300)
Tue 24 - Friday 27th	Islay with one day cycling on Jura - ideally Tuesday or Friday.  Staying at Port Askaig.  Let me know if you would like to share accommodation there.  Going to graduation in Glasgow on the Weds (25th)
Sat 28th	Port Askaig to Colonsay – depart 12.15 arrives 13.25
Sunday 29th	Ferry Colonsay to Oban, depart 20.05 arriving 22.25
Monday 30th	08.00 Ferry to Coll
Tuesday 1st	To Tiree – depart 17.30 – arrive 18.25
Thursday  3rd	Tiree to Barrra - d12.15 - a15.00
Friday 4th July	d18.50 Barra to Oban.
Saturday 5th July	Oban to Edinburgh by TRAIN

Do join in at any stage that is possible for you.  Be aware that getting accommodation in the West of Scotland can be the biggest challenge.

Further plans are:
July or September - Iona, Staffa etc with Heidi and Mark

August - Cumbrae with Linda and Magnus

End of August - An island off Ireland with Eilish Roche and mad friends