What a Difference a Day Makes.

19-20Jul13

Arriving at Flowerdale we were unable to moor on the small pontoon for lack of space and smaller boats preventing us rafting. So, we trundled round to Loch Sheildaig about a mile away noticing there was space in an optional anchorage on the way. We picked up one of the six available blue and white mooring buoys and were immediately glad we had been diverted. Flat calm, serene and we could hear the boat's clock ticking below deck; a beautiful bay with some small islands scattered around and an abundance of wildlife to observe. This had been the first day of true sunshine for us and what a treat, Summer at last.

Adjacent to our mooring was a nest with four grey heron chicks almost ready to claim their independence; they would leave for a while during the day but return again to roost in the late evening their parents taking less and less interest in their demanding calls. In the early hours we spotted sea otters running along the banks and grey seals would occasionally poke their noses clear of the water near the boat to see what was going on.

At last we had occasion to launch the dinghy and ventured off over to Flowerdale where we took the tourist 'easy walk' up to a local waterfall, a pleasant wander in the sunshine and probably more impressive with more rainy conditions; the higher we walked the more the midges made their presence known especially a brutish type which had a particularly painful bite. All-in-all a very pleasurable stay, next stop we hope to anchor in a small bay on the Island of Rona.