What a difference a day makes.....

Today we travelled through Glencoe on our way back to Penrith. We saw some nice scenery although it was quite cloudy. It was a long journey but now we are half way home. We are staying in a place called the Cliffton Hill Hotel. Apparently it was a stable years ago. I think I can still smell the horses. The people that run it are very nice though.

Glencoe

Meandthee

Clifton Hill Hotel

Clifton Hill aka Bates Mote..l...Our overnight stop....

It is a bit creepy...................

See you all soon, ta ta.

Ready for off

I didn't go to Rhue today, it was pouring with rain and I didn't feel like standing in it. I had a half hearted attempt spinning from the pier but no luck. So now just about everything is packed and ready to go. Today we haven't done much, I watched the DVD I bought yesterday in case we had of a wet day and Marlene read her book. Marlene tried her hand at photographing some sparrows so I had a go too.
We have enjoyed our time here in Ullapool. It could have been a lot better if the weather had been good but that's life, I will be back sometime I think. I know how nice it can be.

Marlene's Sparrow

My Sparrow

Ready for off.

So far, so good....

The winds have dropped and so far no rain, I think I'll go fishing.

Umm....fishing didn't go so well, I'll call it a technical hitch for now, lets just say I won't be using the Kayak any more during this visit to Scotland. 

We decided on a boat trip from Ullapool. It was a two hour trip on a boat called the Summer Queen. Not really sure the name fitted too well, it didn't feel much like summer. Molly didn't much like it, in fact I was wondering whether she was suffering from sea sickness. Not that it was rough, it was actually quite calm. I got some nice photos, lots of seals and some sea birds. The summer Isle were just about visible through the mist. We saw a porpoise just as we docked in Ullapool harbour but I missed it so no photo.  

One of many seals.

and more.

Rhue Light House from the sea. Fishing there tomorrow hopefully.

Positive thought of the day. It's a good thing the weather is so bad,

lots of room on the boat.

The Summer Queen.

Molly recovering from her boating ordeal.

We are being tested.

During the last 10 days we have dealt with a lot of what the Scottish weather can throw at us but today it is making it very difficult to come up with something positive to say about it. It was very clear first thing this morning that fishing was not going to be on the agenda. If I fished the rocks at Rhue I would have been blown off of them and into the sea. If I fished the bay in the Kayak I doubt I'd have stayed upright for long. So today we spent the first hour deciding where our overnight stop was going to be when we leave Ullapool (it will be Penrith) and then set off out into the wilds to see if I could find anything visible through the clouds that I could photograph. Well I got a couple that I was quite pleased with but it was hard work. Whilst typing this blog entry and looking out of the window of our chalet I have thought of something positive I can say about the weather. It has pressure washed and dried my car beautifully. No smears from this good old Scottish rain.

Ardvreck Castle

Loch Assynt

High Pressure Jet Washed Car.

A day off...

...from fishing.
  Instead we went for drive and spent some time sitting on the beach in the sun. Hard to believe I know but it was actually quite pleasant earlier. So we got some stuff for a barbie and that was all it needed. Yep it's raining again. Marlene,  forever the optimist, has told me that it looks like it'll stop but I'm not so sure.
 Anyway, already a good day, got some nice photos so as far as I'm concerned , a success!

A bright new day.

Got up to a beautiful morning and went fishing for a change. Caught lots of Mackeral so had it for my dinner and will also have it for tea. I also have enough for breakfast but  maybe I'll catch myself a sea trout and have that instead. My Skua buddy came and saw me again. I told him that if I caught 2 more I let him have one but he got impatient and flew off. Then I got heaps, so he missed out.

Ardmair sunrise

.........Dinner, Tea, Breakfast, Dinner, Tea, Breakfast.........

One of many

My pet Skua

Molly's Mount.

Sunset

My new friend.

I have a new friend. It is a Skua!. It has been following me around when I get out there in the Kayak. I guess word has got around that I am one the main predators of Ardmair bay and he's just waiting for my left overs.

Skua.

A brighter evening.

A few more fish.

Well I went out anyway, it being such a nice day.
Click on link below.
It doesn't get much better than this!!!

This weather.....

....well it's changing like the weather!
    Got up to a bright start and now it's raining again. I can't get over just how fast it can change here. The forecast for today isn't great but is supposed to get better tomorrow.
    I have yet to catch the whopper I'm waiting for although they are clearly here. I have seen them jumping out of the water laughing at me and they are BIG.

All action hero stars in movie!!!

Ullapool Fete

Had a little break from fishing and had a look at the fete at Ullapool. Much the same as any other fete except some of the men were wearing skirts.

Posh Bench

You can never have too many handbags.

Molly was not impressed. Very noisy.

Little Big Dog.

Enough blogging, must get ready to catch my tea.

It's beautiful day.....

Fish Food

The sun is shining, no ones gonna stop me now, (Sorry, opening line to a Queen song). Had a great evening yesterday, fresh fish, good wine and good company. Today the place has been transformed by sunlight. Marlene is still horizontal and I am just loving where I'm at.

This morning

Dinner

Computer Geek

Sorry to hear about the weather you are having .....

....down South.

I hear it has been hot and humid. My heart bleeds for you. Now where we are, we have no such problem, no chance of sunburn here! I went out this morning to try for some sea trout, no rain and a flat calm bay. I didn't get any fish but I did find the mouth of the river where they are supposed to hang out. Then I got a shower, yep, more rain and went back to the chalet and had another one. Those dry suits keep the rain out but it's like you are wearing your own little sauna. Soaked with sweat on the inside but no rain getting in. I must be getting fit with all the exercise, peddling that Yak around the bay.

One of many seals I saw today.

The river mouth, name I don't know.

The story so far....

Sanquhar, our overnight stop.

We have been here a week now and we are enjoying the break in spite of the weather, which by the way is improving. I have caught a lot of fish, all of them pollack I think, from the rocks around Rhue Lighthouse and from the Kayak in Ardmair Bay. I have at last christened the little Kayak rod I bought and hooked something huge that was too much for it, a tale for a later date. The fish I have landed have all been rather small.

We have seen some stunning scenery, there was a day that was so windy that we could barely stand up but, the sun was shining and good for photos. The good thing about the wind is that there are no midges trying to eat you alive.

Marlene is into her book and getting afternoon her naps. Molly seem to be enjoying herself and is being spoilt rotten.

I will try and update this blog daily, I have a slow connection so the photos will be small. Feel free to comment , I will be checking to see if you are paying attention.

Bye for now.......................