Over the Sea to Skye

Friday April 29 

 Not a long journey to-day, the leaving of a rented house is always a chore though. I still resent having to strip beds and, sometimes, vacuum, before leaving. Surely that should be part of the service provided for the eye-watering rental price. Pam is very good about it. We failed to locate both the toaster and the rubbish bins whilst we were here. The indoor bins were left unemptied. We did without the toast.

A beautiful, warm, and sunny morning on which to see the Highlands and the scenic roads to Skye. The thermometer showed 16C at one time. We made good time to the Skye road bridge, despite a lengthy part of the A road being single track with passing places. My first trip to the island was a very long time ago, in a minibus full of schoolkids and camping gear, for a wet week on a beach in the Cuillins. The first time that I saw Highland cattle eating seaweed on the beach.

To-day we followed an easterly route, stopping at a Co-op parking area, which overlooks the beach at Broadford. As Pam said, one day we'll get to the seaside and find that the tide is in. We sat here, eating a late sandwich meal, watching the squabbling Hooded Crows, Herring, Greater Black-backed, and one Common, Gulls. The Hoodies were good ones, no sign of hybridisation here. One came near enough to photograph, but stayed in the shade.


 

After  this very enjoyable break, we continued north towards Portree, through some very bleak mountainsides. Many of the higher peaks were devoid of vegetation, numerous deep runnels running like tears down old creased cheeks. No water in them today. 

The ferry to Raasay, visible on the east, was leaving as we passed. So many unvisited islands for us.

Ten miles north west of Portree we arrived at Ronan House B and B for one night. It's difficult to find a place on the ground floor for a one night stay. Skye is a very popular tourist island. As we stopped, a Cuckoo called, the landlady said that he'd been here for  a week. Maybe I'll be able to hear it tomorrow.

A disappointment. Our annual cooked breakfast is not offered here. It's all Muesli, porridge, yoghurt and Continental. We've just filled in the form with our order. We were full of plans to make a bacon and toast sandwich for lunch. That will teach us not to count chickens before.....

 

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