Day 64 Wed 18 July Inverie to Tobermory

Vega
Irving & Cate Benjamin
Wed 18 Jul 2012 07:08

We left Loch Nevis at 1000 under grey and drizzly sky with a light northerly wind, and headed back west for Ardnamurchan Point.  This very dreich day was the first  bad weather we had suffered for the whole Malts Cruise, good going for the West of Scotland. We passed Mallaig as the ferry was leaving, essentially motoring, albeit with a little assistance from the Genoa.  We rounded the Point (do we get a second sprig of heather for that?) at 1500, and arrived in Tobermory Bay before 1700.  Our plan was to refuel, and we gilled around waiting for a French boat to clear the fuel berth, while anxiously keeping an eye on (again) the last available pontoon berth, important as we were planning an early departure on Friday.  When we got onto the fuel berth there was nobody serving, and Benj walked up to Mackay's Garage, who provide the diesel, to be told they finish work at 1700 (now past).  Mr Mackay reluctantly said he would come down and fill us up, and while we were waiting we placed David on the vacant berth to repel rival boats!  By 1730 we were safely tied up and ready for Evening Prayers. We showered and then ate at McGochan's Pub, where we met and shared a dram with Alexander Maclean, a delightful elderly local man who told us much about the Mull Highland Games which we were due to attend the next day: the Island and much else in the Inner Isles is Maclean territory, and the Games are referred to as the 'Maclean  Games'.  We were invited to visit the Clan tent tomorrow.  Ian and Benj had a walk along to the Mishnish, where there was a rather loud live rock band. It was the plan to retire early, but Ian rather fancied the chance for a final session of malt tasting, so the two of us slipped into McGochan's again, where we sampled a few more drams of the 'wine of the country', before returning to find David already (wisely) abed!

JPEG image