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Heading back to Scotland, this time
with my bike. The plan is to catch the 12 noon ferry from Oban so I
needed to be away around 05:30am. It was 05:35 when I left and had a
good drive to the Cumbernauld area where the traffic was very busy
due to the rush hour. Through Callander I had a mostly clear
drive all the way to Oban where I arrived around 11am. I parked at
the Longlands Road park and cycled down to the Calmac office to buy
my ticket. |
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I'd noticed from the timetables the fares seemed less
than last year. The lady told me that was because we were now still
on the winter timetables. By buying all my tickets on a Hopscotch
ticket I saved quite bit of money. I also needed to book a place on
the last ferry to Iona at 18:00. It only runs if pre-booked. Total
price was £10.80. I wheeled my bike in to the hold of the ferry and
then up to the observation lounge. It was sunny and felt warm in the
shade. The ship was due to leave at 12:00 but was underway at
11:55am. It was a pleasant crossing. At Craignure I called briefly
into the Calmac office to re-check the last Iona ferry was OK then
set off. |
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Even with hazy sunshine it felt quite
chilly at first. The weather forecast had predicted head winds,
which was correct, but they were fairly light. The climb over Glen
More didn't seem as long as the last time I rode over. |
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Old
bothy by the road near Glen More |
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17 miles
to the Iona ferry |
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With plenty of time to reach the ferry
I rode steadily, enjoying the views and taking occasional photos. I
stopped to look at a monument to
Mary Macdonald (1789 -1872)
poetess, though nothing else was said about her other than her place
of birth and death. On the final approach to the ferry jetty at Fionnphort
I saw the ferry leaving. There wasn't a scheduled sailing then. When
it returned it was empty and I was told the next would be the last
for the day at 18:00. I waited in the waiting room and when I saw
some vehicles drive on board around 17:40 I followed them. We were
late leaving as we had to wait for the bus which didn't arrive till
18:05. |
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Ferry at
Fionnphort to Iona |
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At the Iona end Stella was waiting. We
walked to Bishop's House where I firstly wheeled my bike down the
garden to pitch my tent on the small patch of grass above the rocky
shore. Back in the house I joined the staff at 19:00 for a
magnificent home cooked evening meal. |
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Night
work on the ferry slipway |
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Later went for a walk to the Abbey in the dark.
I used the red light on my head torch to preserve my night vision so
I could see the stars better. Last night there had been a good view
of the northern lights but tonight there was nothing. Back at the
ferry slipway the men were working into the night,
working by floodlights. They can only work at low tide so must do
that whenever the weather allows. |
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Night
work on the ferry slipway |
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Return to
Whittle Wanderer
