Tuesday 18^th July, 2006

Anchorage: Tobermory

Position: 56°37.200 N 006°03.900 W

*Sings* ‘It’s a perfect day…. Lalala’ If I knew the rest of the words I would carry on singing, for it has been a lovely day out here on the water. We upped anchor from a very misty Arisaig, the sea calm as a millpond, broken only by seals and a few birds. An eerie calm soon engulfed the boat as we headed into the mist, at times with visibility only 200m. Save for sea birds we didn’t see an awful lot until we reached the Cairns of Coll, where, under perfect sunshine skies of blue and with the sea not much more than a ripple we were treated to the sight of 4 basking sharks and the elusive minke whale, finally. Well, everyone except me saw the minke, it seems! We pootled about in the area for about half an hour, watching the baskers munch on the tidelines and looking for a the minke. Well rewarded glimpse of the minke for those lucky enough to be on deck at the time of his second surfacing, too…Unluckily for me I was below!

We’re now heading back round to Tobermory, skies still gorgeous and the sea still calm. Porpies have been sighted too, so all in all its been a good day. Happy times onboard the Silurian, indeedy.

Sarah

Monday 17^th July, 2006

Anchorage: Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig

Position: 56°54.400 N 005°51.500 W

Distance surveyed: 61nm

Our penultimate day aboard the goodship Salurian. Left Loch Torridon and sailed down the Inner Sound, past eastern coast of Skye into the Sound of Sleat to the Skye Bridge were it looked as though the mast was going to crash against the bridge..... but of course it didn't! Then sailed down Loch Alsh to our mooring at Arisaig The weather better than yesterday but still quite dire.

Ricardo, Susie and I sang our way through renditions of Sinatra, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Jackson 5 on the mast to make the lashing rain and cold a bit more bearable! Also a Portugese/English version of Girl from Ipanema and then Susie and I finishing off with a marvellous version of Bohemian Rhapsody! Also got through the bad weather with Susie's wonderful leek and potato soup which tasted marvellous- even with a dash of sea water, rain.....and snot!

Unfortunately no cetaceans today but a visit from a grey seal and that most exotic of British birds – the Puffin. Also plenty of diving Gannets.

Last day tomorrow – hopefully the water will last for me to have another 60 litre shower!!!

We are all off to the pub tonight...........to be continued.........

Pauline