Loch Inver

Sat 6th

We stayed another day at Loch Inver as there was a kids funday on at the leisure centre (which is staffed by volunteers) There was a bouncy castle and other children which was the main reason for going. We went walking around and they were telling us the price of fuel is so expensive that they go to Ullapool with their cars full of cans to buy diesel! It is actually just the same price as it is in Shetland but we don't have the option of going to Ullapool.

Sun 7th Loch Inver - Portree

We left to go to Portree. It was a flat calm when we left and we were a bit worried that we might run out of fuel if we couldn't sail (Ali has been hoping for cheaper fuel as we get a bit further South.) Well you always get what you wish for and lets just say there was ample wind for sailing by the time we got very far at all. I was trying to do a bit more steering to get used to it, especially as the autopilot is getting very unpredictable - there was one incident when Ali was up forhead and I was feeding Kaylee some soup and the AP stopped and the boat spun to windward at speed and caused a lot of screeking and the soup went flying all over the place. The sailing was apparently great however as we were doing up to 11.5 knots surfing down large waves!

We got into Portree earlier than expected and tied up to a visitor mooring. We phoned people we were gooing to meet and said we would just stay on board for the night as it was still pretty windy and it looked like a lot of rowing!
By the time Ali and I went to bed it was a flat calm with a full moon.

Mon 8th

On Monday we got up and ready as we were meeting Myra at the slip. It was thankfully calm and we got ashore no problems. We went down to the lifeboat station to see Myra's husband David who is the coxswain. Then Myra kindly took us out for a run all around Skye as I had never been further than the harbour before. It is a really lovely place with breathtaking views.

We went to Dunvegan castle - the 800 year old seat of the McLeod clan - for a look which is where these photos were taken. It is great probably better without kids then you could read some of the information instead of trying to stop them breaking the artifacts! There are big well kept gardens which we had a run through too.

We went to the coffee shop for lunch which is where we met this little bird who was very brave indeed at one point he flew onto Kaylee's roll she was eating and gave her a real shock.

We went swimming at tea time at the Portree High School which was built last year. It is a very busy place as the public can come in and use the facilities too. The best swimming pool showers I have ever been in and the pool was pleasantly warm which the girls loved. We went to Myra's for tea and had a lovely meal. It was really good of her to give up her whole day to show us around.

That's enough for now my hands are aching!