Sleepy Craighouse

Zoonie
Thu 28 Jul 2022 07:07
A single seal raised his sleek head above the water as I took in the golden early morning and a few hours later Rob and I chatted with the skippers aboard SL VIC 32 (Steam Lighter Victualling Inshore Craft). They are experimenting with alternatives to coal, rape seed bricks for one, once the oil has been extracted the husks are pressed into bricks, but the disadvantage of these is they must be kept dry or they expand and disintegrate, and dryness on number 32 cannot be guaranteed!

Back in the day these puffers used to pull up on the sandy beaches of the islands and the whole village would turn out to unload the cargo of supplies and coal and then reload with farm produce, tweeds, animals for market and the like. But then along came RoRo ferries and the end for the puffers was in sight. But not for number 32, she is doing well, providing unique and very relaxing holidays for twelve people at a time as well as day trips and dinner evenings aboard. Nick is now busy working behind the scenes, leaving the actual voyages to the next generation.

I am glad we are here in the quiet season, before the glens and boglands ring once more to the sound of the guns in the hands of the hunters, waiting in their hides. We saw these metal structures on a brief walk up a steep track out of the village, as we were, weighed down by a bottle of 'silent' Jura Distillery Single Malt and two cartons of oat milk from the well stocked shop. Supplies should we get lost! Spent cartridges littered the ground behind one of the 'hides' and were trodden well in by walkers maybe, taking in the natural beauty of this place as they journey through.

The morning started with a golden sun, and the day ended with a watery one.

Today Zoonie is motionless for the time being, but around eleven we will move down to the entrance of the Sound of Islay with the last of the ebbtide and take the flood as it moves up the Sound to the west coast of Jura, where once again we will feel the heave of the ocean. Have a good day.......


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