Island at the Edge
The Gathering, Cable Bay, Colonsay
Showing posts with label Loti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loti. Show all posts
Monday, 31 December 2012
Island at the Edge-Colonsay- Facing the Abyss?
The news here is that as part of the medium term plan documented in the Ferry Review we are to have a dedicated boat for Colonsay from 2014, the Loch Nevis.
Wow, one would think, 7 sailings per week with our very own dedicated boat! The Loch Nevis is a super boat, but, and this is a big BUT, her capacity is only a quarter of our wonderful LOTI (Lord of the Isles)!
Which means, if you wish to come to Colonsay and bring your car, you might not be able to because, during our short season, a very, very busy period we can see up to 43 cars disembark from the ferry, and the Loch Nevis can only hold 14 cars! Whereas our wonderful current dedicated boat, LOTI, holds 56!
Now, then, it doesn't take much to do a wee calculation. If the Loch Nevis only holds 14 cars (or 2 articulated lorries) the actual capacity for vehicles on this boat becomes even less.
On every boat that comes to our Island at the Edge, Maclennans van brings our much needed shop supplies, including the post. The bin wagon arrives too, that drops the capacity to possibly 11 cars. Then on a Wednesday, we get an additional courier, Derek Wilson, (although in the summer months, we may still have the Finlaggan) but at the beginning and end of our season and over the winter months, this would drop the capacity to 10 cars.
Another fact is that the Loch Nevis is slower than LOTI, this would therefore make the crossing to/from Oban longer. By my calculations up to 30 minutes longer. So how does this equate to the idea we can have shopping trips to Oban?
But, Loch Nevis can carry 190 foot passengers, this can only mean increased business for 'Archie the Magnificent's' Bike Hire, and a raft of very fit visitors - having to walk everywhere.
Most non self-catering accommodation does offer transfers to and from their businesses and we also offer car hire. The positives are there is always a way around things.
Loch Nevis may be economically viable during the winter months although pre-booking would be paramount for those wishing to bring their vehicle.
As reported in the Oban Times Colonsay Community Council chairman, Mike McNichol said.
"We are delighted with the additional sailings and having a dedicated vessel, which will be very good for Colonsay during the winter months. However, we are concerned that the vehicle capacity of the Loch Nevis, which we believe is just 14 cars, will have a severe impact on island life and tourism during the peak periods of Easter and Summer. Currently we regularly have 30 cars plus trailers with boats, etc in June and July. The Community Council will hold a public meeting early in January to see what our community thinks about this plan and how we should react"
Will this decision put our wee island further into the Abyss and further 'out of reach' for those wishing to visit us.
We would love to hear all your comments on this! I will keep you posted.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Glorious weekend...
What a wonderful weekend off!
Yes, Kapitein finally came out of the inner sanctum and we have had some well deserved time off.
Friday evening was lovely and still, so we decided to head to Balnahard to have a BBQ supper. Kapitein set out the chairs and lit the BBQ when to our surprise we were joined by several million uninvited guests - Midgies!
Avon Skin-so-Soft worked for a few moments, but to no avail. Kapitein found the best plan of action was to sit over the smoking BBQ as our sausages and meat cooked to keep the little darlings away! It worked!
We watched as the Friday evening ferry - LOTI - sailed in and out of Scalasaig Harbour and mused about the 'holidays' beginning and ending with this wonderful journey for folk arriving to and departing from our wonderful island - thankful that we don't need to make these journeys.
We endured our uninvited 'guests' for a couple of hours but even Sampster and Wolfie were tired of the wee blighters trying to nest in their eyeballs!
Reports on Saturday morning were that the whole island was awash with Midgies, even the Old Waiting Room, at Scalasaig was engulfed with plumes of hungry Midgies.
Saturday was a 'domestics' day, catching up on jobs around the house.
Sunday morning, we were up early, packed some nice things to eat and off we headed to Oransay. What a glorious day. Light winds (and no midgies)
We crossed the Strand and headed for the East side of Oransay through Poll Gorm towards Rubha Bàn. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
We continued towards Port Dhūn a' Gharaidh as a visiting Yacht arrived.
We were very aware of the tides so we headed off inland beside the Mesolithic Shell Mound to rejoin the track at Eilean Fhionnalaidh.
By this time Sampster and Wolfie were beginning to get a bit tired! A wee rest was in order to eat our snacks and enjoy the views, on second glance, Sampster had fallen asleep!!! Ah bless him...
We arrived back at the car, after a thoroughly enjoyable few hours.
On our way back to the Homestead on the Colonsay ring road, we passed Colonsay International Airport. There appeared to be some activity, unusual for a Sunday. We found out later that the Coast Guard were on exercise. The Coast Guard helicopter was picking up personnel, circling around the Homestead then winching them back down to the Airstrip. What a treat that would have been. I did later suggest if they ever needed a 'victim' (casualty) I would be happy to oblige! Not wanting to tempt fate though, I don't want a real injury!!
If you would like to sample our island delights, come and see us sometime! Especially as our Bed & Breakfast is open all the year round! During the winter months, the Calmac ferry timetable changes, but with the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) it is reported that there will be a 35% reduction in fares from October. But, you mustn't forget, you can always make a flying visit with Hebridean Air Services, a must for any discerning traveller.
Hope to see you very soon...
Yes, Kapitein finally came out of the inner sanctum and we have had some well deserved time off.
Friday evening was lovely and still, so we decided to head to Balnahard to have a BBQ supper. Kapitein set out the chairs and lit the BBQ when to our surprise we were joined by several million uninvited guests - Midgies!
Avon Skin-so-Soft worked for a few moments, but to no avail. Kapitein found the best plan of action was to sit over the smoking BBQ as our sausages and meat cooked to keep the little darlings away! It worked!
We watched as the Friday evening ferry - LOTI - sailed in and out of Scalasaig Harbour and mused about the 'holidays' beginning and ending with this wonderful journey for folk arriving to and departing from our wonderful island - thankful that we don't need to make these journeys.
 |
| LOTI coming into Scalasaig |
 |
| LOTI leaving Scalasaig |
 |
| View towards something called the mainland! |
Reports on Saturday morning were that the whole island was awash with Midgies, even the Old Waiting Room, at Scalasaig was engulfed with plumes of hungry Midgies.
Saturday was a 'domestics' day, catching up on jobs around the house.
Sunday morning, we were up early, packed some nice things to eat and off we headed to Oransay. What a glorious day. Light winds (and no midgies)
We crossed the Strand and headed for the East side of Oransay through Poll Gorm towards Rubha Bàn. I think the pictures speak for themselves.
We continued towards Port Dhūn a' Gharaidh as a visiting Yacht arrived.
We were very aware of the tides so we headed off inland beside the Mesolithic Shell Mound to rejoin the track at Eilean Fhionnalaidh.
By this time Sampster and Wolfie were beginning to get a bit tired! A wee rest was in order to eat our snacks and enjoy the views, on second glance, Sampster had fallen asleep!!! Ah bless him...
We arrived back at the car, after a thoroughly enjoyable few hours.
On our way back to the Homestead on the Colonsay ring road, we passed Colonsay International Airport. There appeared to be some activity, unusual for a Sunday. We found out later that the Coast Guard were on exercise. The Coast Guard helicopter was picking up personnel, circling around the Homestead then winching them back down to the Airstrip. What a treat that would have been. I did later suggest if they ever needed a 'victim' (casualty) I would be happy to oblige! Not wanting to tempt fate though, I don't want a real injury!!
If you would like to sample our island delights, come and see us sometime! Especially as our Bed & Breakfast is open all the year round! During the winter months, the Calmac ferry timetable changes, but with the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) it is reported that there will be a 35% reduction in fares from October. But, you mustn't forget, you can always make a flying visit with Hebridean Air Services, a must for any discerning traveller.
Hope to see you very soon...
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Phew... LOTI departed...Duck Man turned up a blinder.
The cool north wind was on the move again today but this time it was blowing hard as we watched LOTI set sail early this morning with mother and Peggy Sue on board. The fear in mother's eye's was unmistakable. Ah bless; they had had a wonderful time up to then. They did, true to form, wreak havoc in The Pantry at lunch time yesterday. We even had a call from Gavalus Gavalar to let us know they were there, begging us to collect them. Mind I did make them wait before hastening along the road, ducking and diving in between all the touroids. When will they learn 'our' country code!
Duly punished, as they had been missing for several hours, mother and Peggy Sue were relegated to the garden for the majority of the afternoon. They were threatened with the shed, which was a good option for us to house the stowaways for their extra night. But we reneged and allowed them access to the homestead, even feeding them a tasty morsel for supper before an early night. But it was not meant to be...
A knock at the door brought a visitor to see mother! Mother!! We all looked at her as the Duck Man (an 81 year old from the north of the island) came in.
He brought her 6 duck eggs as promised, at the price agreed during their little Tet a Tet on Saturday night at the Ceilidh. They chatted a while, enjoying a cup of tea (which, you will be pleased to know, we didn't charge him for).
Then what a surprise. He wandered off to the car and returned, handing over 6 hen eggs, not free range as expected, but, most surprisingly, free of charge!! Yes, the Duck Man gave away 6 eggs to mother! And, honestly, free of charge!! We were all stunned! This will go down in the history books of our Island at the Edge, that's for sure.
Got a message from mother and Peggy Sue that they had arrived safely on the mainland but unfortunately, Peggy Sue had lost her porridge during the two and a half hour crossing.
This afternoon saw more Hebridean fleeces rolled, dagged, bagged and tagged - they should be winging their way to the mill by early next week. That means passengers on the Tuesday flight may well take fright if Ms Angell does decide to descend to 1000 feet and play with the door handle.
It was also the Kapitein's birthday today, his treat today was an Angus burger, with lighted candle and chips, washed down with a Banana milk shake at the Pantry. Happy Birthday Kapitein.
Duly punished, as they had been missing for several hours, mother and Peggy Sue were relegated to the garden for the majority of the afternoon. They were threatened with the shed, which was a good option for us to house the stowaways for their extra night. But we reneged and allowed them access to the homestead, even feeding them a tasty morsel for supper before an early night. But it was not meant to be...
A knock at the door brought a visitor to see mother! Mother!! We all looked at her as the Duck Man (an 81 year old from the north of the island) came in.
He brought her 6 duck eggs as promised, at the price agreed during their little Tet a Tet on Saturday night at the Ceilidh. They chatted a while, enjoying a cup of tea (which, you will be pleased to know, we didn't charge him for).
Then what a surprise. He wandered off to the car and returned, handing over 6 hen eggs, not free range as expected, but, most surprisingly, free of charge!! Yes, the Duck Man gave away 6 eggs to mother! And, honestly, free of charge!! We were all stunned! This will go down in the history books of our Island at the Edge, that's for sure.
Got a message from mother and Peggy Sue that they had arrived safely on the mainland but unfortunately, Peggy Sue had lost her porridge during the two and a half hour crossing.
This afternoon saw more Hebridean fleeces rolled, dagged, bagged and tagged - they should be winging their way to the mill by early next week. That means passengers on the Tuesday flight may well take fright if Ms Angell does decide to descend to 1000 feet and play with the door handle.
It was also the Kapitein's birthday today, his treat today was an Angus burger, with lighted candle and chips, washed down with a Banana milk shake at the Pantry. Happy Birthday Kapitein.
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