Great Ape discovered hiding on Holy Isle!

Staring out to sea from the south-east corner of Holy Isle was a huge primate. We're not sure if anywhere else in the Clyde has such a beast in residence, nor how many people are aware that just the other side of Lamlash Bay is a creature that could give King Kong a run for his money...

Moving home...

Things are gathering pace for the closing of the retreat on Holy Isle, so many things must be transported across Lamlash Bay (yes, that is a fridge in the front! There's a diesel engine under there somewhere too.)














Alice was so excited she danced a hornpipe on the tubes.
(Not something we normally encourage, but Alice is Alice ;-)

Gannet to go...

We had a call from the NTS Rangers yesterday morning: a young gannet had decided that life was easier being fed fresh mackerel by them rather than making its own way out at sea, so after being brought back to them three times it was decided to put the reluctant seabird further out in its own element. Could we help take the gannet out to sea? Of course we could!

 

So at 1230 we set off south east with the Rangers, out into the Firth of Clyde where after donning suitable gloves and goggles (gannets are very sharp at one end) Jo and Kate removed the bird from its cosy box...

 ...and then re-introduced it to deep water instead of puddles at the roadside.

 We last saw the youngster working out how to get to the fish bar at Brodick Castle!

We wish it bon voyage - and hope it realises that Senegal is probably a better option in winter than the North Atlantic.

Been a long time...

But hey, stuff happens - and this weekend what happened was sharks. Basking sharks to be specific. Yesterday morning we spotted 1 juvenile (about 2.5m) off Hamilton Rock; in the afternoon we found the same one in Brodick Bay, and 3 adults (2x4m and 1x5m) off Holy Isle. Today we counted a definite 12 between the south east of Holy Isle and Hamilton Rock. This is more than we've ever seen in one place before...

We'll have to send the details to the Marine Conservation Society in a little while. (And we did!)

Friday 13th...

All these people survived - and had fun in the sun & waves too!

A Busy Day!

To Holy Isle as soon as possible after low water - then a Pladda/Bennan trip; wind NE F4-F5 but a nice bright day and no one got soaked...






...then two Holy Isle and beyond trips; wee folk for a taster first -

- then some bigger people - and we were lucky enough to get close to a young basking shark in Brodick Bay!

The white area is the mouth - it was feeding and not disturbed by our presence.







We also got fairly close to an older lady...

PS Waverley, off Clauchlands Point

Arran Farmers' Society Show 2010

We spent most of yesterday at the Show in Lamlash - very windy, but mostly dry...

...as you see from our flag!

Lots of you came and spoke to us (and to Skyla and Ailsa!), which made the time go by quickly.

The three winners of our £25 vouchers were: Kyle Taylor, Bruce Margetts and Lynn Ridley; congratulations - we'll be in touch with you soon.

Growing Panes...

...ouch! Today we have been transporting double glazing units to Holy Isle for the Inner Light Retreat buildings.

 

We can squeeze more on!

The guys from World Group

Last load of the day...

Despite the weather this morning things improved, and we all got the job done in short order.

Largs, Spanners and Letters

Over to Largs Yacht Haven today to do some routine maintenance (these engines don't fix themselves, unfortunately).

Lots of  patient help from Neil Caldwell - many thanks!





While I was playing grease monkey Elspeth re-decorated Bennan so that you all know who we are...

Pladda and Bennan Head

Late start today - tides not really helpful now but we do what we can...

Set off from Lamlash at 1600, just as the P.S. Waverley was approaching the south channel; by the time we were at Hamilton Rock (where the passengers saw a young seal pup with its mother) we were able to chase her for a quick photo opportunity. Guess where our camera was... :-(

The rest of the journey was good fun - a bit splashy round Pladda, and a stiffish breeze blowing off the hills; but pleasantly sunny at the south end of Arran (isn't it always ;-)

To Ailsa Craig with the RSPB...

...or Lucy, as we call her.
Despite the weather forecast being less of a prediction and more a sort of lucky dip, we decided that we would run today's scheduled trip to the Fairy Rock. Conditions were interesting: F4+, seas moderate, visibility good; so a bit bouncy and splashy.

There were one or two squeals from the front seats on the way out, but I think that was more to do with the drop-offs than the cold water which those of us at the back enjoyed ;-)

Still a good number of puffins about, but I suspect they are starting to wander off now.

Going the wrong way round!

Because of the seas we couldn't loiter by the gannetry for long, so Lucy made us do it again on the way home - clockwise this time, which caused some confusion as the skipper always goes around Ailsa Craig anti-clockwise (no, we don't know why either).

Nearly back in Lamlash

But we got back on time, and now the waterproofs are hanging out to dry, ready for the next jaunt on the Clyde...

We quite like Mondays...

Four young ladies round the Bays for an hour - I think they wanted to break the world water speed record really, but going round in tight circles was almost as good.

Weather quite pleasant - not too bright, and just enough breeze to make it almost bouncy.



Then some more nun-running to Holy Isle - was given some really scrummy home-made ginger biccies -still warm from the oven! Yummy! Thanks Angela!

Looking at work from afar

Took some nice island people on a one hour trip round Holy Isle to Brodick and back (so that Mum could 1; make sure the wee fellah wasn't going to be seasick every time he saw a boat and 2; wave at her shop from the wet side on a sunny Sunday afternoon). Mission accomplished! More converts to the cause!

Ailsa the sea puppy

Pretty Grim Friday

Started off for Ailsa Craig, but aborted due to sea conditions being worse than forecast. Can't expect passengers to put up with hours of misery (not to mention the other risks) so turned round at Largybeg Point. They seemed grateful that I'd made the decision before they put me in a rowing boat with hardtack and sour water...

Weather slowly improved  through the day, so got an hour out at 1600 with yet another midshipman and his family - this one also loved it, much to Mummy's and Daddy's delight :-)

Pladda, Bennan and Holy Isle

To Pladda and Bennan Head this morning - showery and F4 (W) but enjoyable all the same. Not much wildlife to see, but there's always the scenery.

This afternoon - around Holy Isle and up to Brodick with some more nice folk (we seem only to get nice folk - thanks everyone!) including another potential admiral or two ;-)

And now Daddy wants a RiB too (so we pointed him to RIBnet for "advice" and also the the RYA for tuition).

Birthday Cruise to Ailsa Craig

A little nun-running at lunch time, followed by Tina's birthday (over 21!) tour to Paddy's Milestone.
A bit splashy (south-westerly to westerly F3-F4, seas a bit confused) but great fun - still many puffins and more and more Manx shearwaters. The younger element went up to to the tower - not enough time to get to the top!

Holy Isle and Beyond...

Four gentleman for a one hour jaunt in the drizzle - the youngest was only two and this was his first time on a RiB. I think we have another convert...

Ailsa Craig on a Saturday morning

Just two passengers today - a lassie from Edinburgh who won one of our vouchers at last year's Arran Farmers' Society show and her friend. They'd come over just to do this so we had to go really :-) They enjoyed themselves immensely - so if you're in Edinburgh and someone passes you one of our cards, say hello from us!

We'll be giving away more vouchers at this year's show - Wednesday 11th August. Come and see us on our stand.

Many of the auks (guillemots and razorbills) seem to have left recently; but as the young were jumping into the sea last week they've probably got no reason to hang around now. The puffins seem to be gathering like swallows before departure too...

Nice and swelly with a bit of chop on top on the way back, so we felt we were driving the boat rather than just gliding along. Lovely!

Forgot the camera - until we got back and found it had slid down in the rucksack, so it was there all the time...

Special People...

A one hour jaunt around Holy Isle and into Brodick Bay this afternoon, weather fine and seas friendly. "Summer" has arrived on Arran (see ship photo).
The two youngest passengers seemed to enjoy the "twirly bits" rather than the sight-seeing side of things - but boys will be boys!

This evening a run up to Corrie - several seals (grey, common and wooden) and quite a few porpoise. Young guillemot too. Lots of Manx shearwaters appearing now.

Pladda and Bennan Head this morning -cool but brightening; sea conditions fairly calm, just a bit of left over swell after last night's wind.

Holy Isle and Brodick Bay this evening; sunny, warm and flat calm. Was hooted at by the oil tanker "Summer" in Brodick - an omen, perhaps?

Back from Ailsa Craig again...

...For the 24th time. We all got a bit wet this morning - rain and showers nearly all the way there, but brightened as we approached. Sea state was calm there and back.

Puffins at Ailsa Craig

Dozens of puffins today - I wonder if they're getting ready to leave soon? Also several sightings of porpoise, but no bigger cetaceans.