Away: Cal Mac Ferry

We arrived at the ferry port three minutes late for the book in time and were put into the NAUGHTY QUEUE, otherwise known as STAND BYE. See Whinger.

We watched the people in the GOODY TWO SHOES QUEUE taking in the sea air as they waited in full confidence of getting onto the ferry. We had to rename it the POO QUEUE – if you see what I mean?

We left OBAN on a drizzly, grey, windswept day,

slipping out of the harbour past leisure craft,

ancient castles

and beautiful, ALASKAN STYLE views.

Even on the boat, the staff appeared to have time on their hands, just as they were in OBAN.

Oban's a busy port, with plenty to see.

DUART CASTLE

a proper castle.

It's been a real problem choosing an image because there were masses of great views in the camera.

The RNLI was zipping about entertaining the passengers as we negotiated our way out of OBAN.

For us MULL is heaven and the distant view of AULISTON POINT and the bay beyond it are sublime.We often see HARBOUR PORPOISES here, today was no exception.

TOBERMORY

Once past Tobermory and AULISTON POINT, we're in sight of OPEN SEA.

And the narrow passage, THE SOUND OF MULL is falling away behind us.

Birds are our constant companions now, BLACK GUILLAMOTS

ARCTIC TERNS

and a raft of possible RAZOR BILLS.

Then we're into blue 'water sailing', well, into BLUE SKY, as the weather has changed.

TRESHNISH ISLES, including MEXICAN HAT ISLE and STAFFA were to our left and

We turned to pass COLL and TIREE also on our left with COLL'S lighthouse stealing the show.

We had seen a few lone BASKING SHARKS up to this point.

But suddenly......we were surrounded by them. They were in twos and threes and were swooping about, scooping in the plankton as they went. We had a good ten minutes of this wildlife spectacle. Some, oblivious to the ferry, had to make emergency turns to avoid collision with us.