Driving was interesting, lots more cloud today and as we came down through Lewis we could see the clouds on and around the summits of Harris's mountains. And we had to drive over quite a high pass, actually going into one such cloud, visibility became very poor and at one stage, just for about a mile, the rain was quite heavy. On the plus side it helped clean the windscreen of the fly splatter! I really should have taken a picture of one of the hills with the summits poking above the cloud layer but I was in a rush and light wasn't great to make a memorable shot. Anyway here's a picture looking back from the ferry, not very good as by now the cloud and mist had just merged
Did I say go "Good, just an hour or so to kill"? Not so good, there is no office at the tiny pier at Leverburgh, just an info board saying the next sailing is at 14:45. Liz phones the ferry company Calmac and the man in the office is almost as confused as we are and reckons the 12:00 sailing is still scheduled, but we should ask someone at the dock. He obviously doesn't know this particular terminus, there is nothing or no-one here! And, being the Sabbath, even the nearby coffee shop is closed. Loads more cars arrive, we try to help the confusion by explaining that the man in the office is just as confused as us.
Keep watching this channel for another exciting installment of "What ferries are running today?"!
So, what's missing from this picture?
Yes, it was easy, the answer is this
The 12:00 ferry which is going to run after all. The crossing is amazing, basically the ship has to dodge loads of little islands and keep to the channel, so lots of turns at marker boys. And we are lightly loaded so have a shallow draft today.
It's only an hour across to Berneray (an island that desperately needs a marketing campaign as "Gateway To the Uists!"). Within possibly less than a mile we are off Berneray again and on the causeway to N Uist. Yes, we did heed the warning signs and "Watch out for Otters" but we didn't see any.
It's about 20 miles or so, much all narrow single track road to the campsite. This is the main road mind, so it might be fun exploring other roads this week!?
Unlike Harris there are no mountains, unlike Lewis no rocky outcrops (this end of the island, at least). It's all low lying heathland studded with tiny pools and lochs.
The campsite itself is actually on the RSPB reserve at Balranald. It's just a sandy field that has had facilities built but it is fine. Here's the view from the van
Yep, the local graveyard. However walk just up onto the dunes and there's a slightly better view
So tomorrow we'll go explore the birdlife (if the weather improves) because, remember that low cloud on Harris, it was the same here, no rain but a real wetting drizzle and the return of last week's biting wind. An afternoon in the van, made easier by the discovery that there's a food van on site today - a damp afternoon is always made better with a bacon roll!
Today's route
About 78 miles by car and 11 or so across the sound. But the way that hour long ferry journey, a campervan (the same price as a car) and two passengers. Wanna guess the cost? It's almost exactly the same distance and time to get from Southampton to Cowes, where two seniors and my van would work out at £74.25 single. Today's trip, £24.65! Even the 4 hour 40 mins, 88 miles trip back to the mainland next week is just £115.40.
That IOW ferry is ruddy expensive!!
