Same Shirt, Different day-2012 Adventures of the "Devonport Wonder Babes"

Monday 2nd July Dunoon to Islay

After another fine breakfast we said goodbye to katie and wille  headed off northwards about 9 am,

Willie in his beautiful cashmere sweater

Drove up through Inverary and down through Lochgilpead and Tarbet, b  oth very interesting smaller towns, to the ferry terminal at Kennacraig to check in by 12.30 pm. Nice new Calmac vessel called “Finnlagen”, built in a Polish shipyard in 2011, is now on this route to Islay, nice interior fit out and good food and drink services at reasonable prices and live Wimbledon on the screens.

Ferry "Finlaggen"at Kennacraig pier

Finlaggen Interior

Our car, grey wagon in front centre

Arriving in Port Askaig

The 1 ¾ hour journey passed in a flash and then we were driving off at Port Askaig and onto Bowmore which is the central town on this island. Stopped at supermaket to get fresh milk and yoghurt and then on to the YHA at Port Charlotte about 12 miles around the bay. Road meanders between fields of sheep and cattle grazing peacefully but sometimes on the road as no fences here so need to drive cautiously.

Port Charlotte

Arrived here about 4.30 pm and had to wait a while until opened up at 5 pm. After dinner we went down to a local event held at Bruichladdich distillery, about 5 min drive away, which was an introduction to the local fauna and flora ( esp birds) and some local culture –unaccompanied singing, some fiddle playing and Highland dancing. Very pleasant and informative couple of hours.

Beautiful singing from local publican

Young Highland dancers

PS More uncanny coincidences, when we opened up emails after arriving on Islay there was one from Shane Dryden a school mate of mine who had just stayed in a B&B in Tralee in Ireland, The owner said she had just had 2 women from NZ staying and then she saw our names in their guest book. Spooky eh !