Having reached Tobermory, and being surprised at our visit coinciding with the annual Music Festival we enjoyed our rest day. My day involved Hitch Hiking across the island to Climb my first Munroe 3000ft from sea level. I reverted to my youth and wrote out on A4 in Black pen my desired destination – “Ben More” and set off walking from Tobermory towards Salen ( No public transport and the taxis were still dealing with the drunken music lovers from Sat night.) . Within 5 minutes a car stopped and Jeff Moore of the Island gave me a lift right to the foot of Ben More. I had arrived at the start by 9.15 on a fantastic clear sunny day with no mist.

The climb was stunning – not technically difficult to navigate and no scrambling just a straight slog to the top. I saw a Mountain Hare and loads of birds that I am still identifying. The top gave clear views up to Skye; down to Jura and across towards the high mountains around Fort William.

Going down was easy and a stop near a water fall gave time to share the experience with Helen at home courtesy of Vodaphone.

Once down I was faced with a seven mile trek back to Salen. I wasn't looking forward to this bit as it was into a stiff cold North easterly along the Loch edge. After about 4 miles I was picked up by Wayne Hamilton who dropped me in Salen. Wayne was the caretaker of one of the private estate islands. After being dropped by Wayne I was picked up by Ian and taken to Tobermory . Ian was on the Island for his daughters wedding on Monday but had just taken his mum to hospital. I am very grateful for all those who interrupted their lives to give a total stranger a lift. I was back at the boat by 3pm to hear Galway Girl being performed at the pub next door as I type this blog – now for a shower and a pint ( also a pain killer!)  What a great day.

Buffer's call sign for those that have asked is EIAS8 - the MMSI number is 250000866. The boat phone number is 07818438414

We only stayed one night in Oban and then moved on towards Tobermory on Mull. The sail across to Mull, and up Mull Sound was great and was for me the best day yet. The weather was kind to us even though for the majority of the day the wind was still on the nose. It remained bright and sunny and the sailing was excellent, even better when the wind came round 180 degrees  and we sailed the last few miles before starting the engine to enter the harbour.

We were a bit taken aback  to find a French Cruise ship anchored in the bay - it nearly filled it - and Tobermory full of  tourists and camper vans on the quay. This weekend is the annual Mull music Festival. Not sure how many were here for the music and how many for the drink.  I have never seen so many people drunk but friendly - good atmosphere really.  I am off to try and climb ben More tomorrow and then its on to Loch Sunnart. 

We sailed South back down Loch Sween and then continued North in the main Northern Channel on the east sid eof Jura. This trip was to take us past the mouth of   Corryvreckan and then up towards the marina Craobh Haven.  The weather was terrible and we reefed down to the Strom Jib and third reef.  The wind gusted to force 8 and the wind instrument packed up. We tacked back and forward until we managed with some relief to get into the marina where we stayed 2 nights.  We enjoyed a day off and walked over the peninsula to Ardfern and back - about 8 miles.

Unfortunately on leaving we were caught in a sharp gust and we pranged another boats davits. No damge to us but definately an insurance claim in the offing. My first in 30 yrs sailing.  Luckily no damage to us and we sailed across the loch to a samll island called Torsa. This island hid a small gap between Seil Island and Luing.  Its only a narrow channel and we had to anchor to wait for the right moment in the tide to go through between a number of rocks. very similar to the Swellies in the Menai Straits.

The short cut saved us a couple of hours getting round to Oban and it also gave us our best sail of the trip so far up to Kerrera marina.  The sailing was great and made up for my embarrasment at pranging someone elses boat. 

A number of things came out of this leg: The generosity of people who helped us with advice on pilotage - Colin , and donations - particularly Ian at Croabh Haven; the understanding that accidents do happen (Jim) - even to experienced yachtsmen; and the sheer beauty of Scotland ( and its national drink).

I am looking forward to the next leg up to Tobermory . Tims time with me is nearly up so we're going up to Loch Sunnart and then back to Fort William when James Castle should be joining me for the next leg up to Skye.   But first we need to fix :- the topping lift, the main halyard; the ind instruments etc , etc......  Sailing is realy fun!  But we did get Fish and Chips in Oban tonight so another treat.

Just a reminder to keep a track on the guy kayaking round and anothe rinteresting blog "Fandancer" a couple escaping to the med through the French canals.

But leave we did. But I will go back. We sailed further North tacking across the channel making for Craobh Haven we were aware this was another long trip but decided to cut things short as Tim had found a small out of the way palce on Loch Sween. I cannot begin to describe this place. Its in the middle of no where and its a thin loch with a small ( 300 metres across) harbour. there's a small village and a bar and what's more important visitors bouys.

From Bangor we headed out for Islay - our first Scottish island.  The trip up from Northern Island to Island went well. This was to be our first Scottish Island. It was a gem of a day with bright sun but cold. The scenary of the NI coast and the Mull of Kintyre was great and the harbour at Port Ellen beautiful - it has a distillery in the town and about seven others on the Island. It would take a lot to get me away from here

The trip up from the IOM to Northern Ireland was a bit harder than usual. It was wet and the winds were against us, The forecast was for North westerly winds becoming Westerly later. So we expected the wind to come round and it did - just as we turned West into Belfast lough. We had a day off in Bangor NI and witnessed a pipe band march -  inocuous in many places but to see the batton twirling and pipes and drums with escorted police did tend to make me feel a little uncomfortable - but its part of the culture.