Sometimes the journey is the event by itself. Yesterday it was a 5 hour boat ride in sunny conditions that was the pleasure. Oban is a very protected harbour and the jump off point to many of the inner & outer islands. 
I took a photo of the chart so I could see on my phone where we were when on deck without going back and forth.
As you might see, the Isle of Mull is on your left and the ship passes the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse (see previous year’s posts for views from the light)
on the right two hours after departing Oban. With old castles,
lighthouses
Fancy homes
and many smaller islands enroute.
After passing Ardnamurchan we had 3 hours before arriving in Lochboisdale. Time for a nap.
When Lenny, the taxi drive dropped me off at the Brae Lea House where I was staying we discovered that Patsy, the owner was out so I dropped my bags and went for a walk. Reminded me of the time in Carradale.
I would never have considered such in the States. As you can see the day was glorious so a walk and a nosey (looking around) was in order.
The Lochboisdale Hotel has a nice pub where I stopped for a couple of pints. I had good crac with Perry formerly from London and a rugby player and I’m guessing a Unionist as most transplanted English are (forgive me P if I’ve errored) and his mate Eddie from Drumchapel (Glasgow) a true SNP supporter, Jerry a former councilor and some others. You could tell that Perry & Eddie were pals by the way they tormented each other. Sort of like my poet pal, Mike & I.
When I awoke this AM the weather was much worse than dreich. It was pouring rain and blowing like stink so I spent a few hours removing the 2500 duplicates photos that Apple had so generously added to my iPhoto library, took a long, most needed nap and as the MetOffice had predicted, when I awoke the rain had lightened to the point that I could head back out to the pub to watch an exciting (ahmm) football game between Aberdeen & Celtic. 95 minutes and 1 to nil. Who hoo! Would rather they had switched to the rugby game on the other channel. Did you know that when a rugby player scores by crossing the goal or try line why it is called a try rather than goal? I didn’t. It is because in earlier times when you crossed that line you didn’t get any points but you did get the opportunity to ‘Try’ a kick. As the game evolved they realized getting points was more exciting than the opportunity to kick.
After I dinner of roast venison at the hotel, I went back to Brae Lea where Patsy’s husband George offered me a Highland Park ( and not one of those wee official ones served by measure in bars) and some good conversation. A pint of good beer, Guinness, McEwan’s, Belhaven’s Best etc is about £3 or $4.50 US but the measured drink is about 1 oz. for about the same £/$. Go figure and have a pint.
Smoked haddock & poached eggs for breakfast today, Lock Fyne (pronounced Fine) kippers for tomorrow and I’ll be off to Lochmaddy in N. Uist. By the way, Uist, Uig and Ullapool all pronounce the ‘U’ differently just to make you sound more of a foreigner. Thankfully the Scots are more than happy to quickly correct pronunciation.
Patsy obviously collects travel souvenirs and one that my pal Bernie, Francis Ouimet and all golfers would appreciate.
“Old golfers never die, they just fade away.”
Her guest lounge is brilliant 
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