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