The flood tide was now rushing north up the
Sound of Islay at 5 knots. While there are some counter eddies, it is a purgatory thing to waste energy fighting the forces of nature. It is much better to go with the flow and where better to stop for third luncheon than this stunning beach on the Jura shore?
Tony wasted no time in leaping to the top of the basalt dyke behind the beach. "You'll need to come up and see this view" he shouted down. Well my knees were still aching after
the Tarbert portage the previous night so I took my time...
...and pitched my tent in the lee of another dyke. My tent was still soaking wet after
my camp on Seil with Mike two nights previously. The fresh offshore wind soon had it bone dry. While it was drying I slowly made my way up to Tony the easy way, round the back of the dyke.
This is looking NW to Ruvaal lighthouse on Islay with
Oronsay, Colonsay and Mull on the horizon.
This is looking west across the Sound of Islay to
Sgarbh Breac 364m on Islay.
This is looking SE down the narrowing Sound of Islay.
These pretty yellow primroses caught my eye as I stopped to give my knees a rest.
Tony was right the view from the top of the dyke was stunning.
We had pulled the kayaks well above the incoming tide so we were in no hurry.
Unlike these guys whom we had seen lifting their pots when we left the mouth of West Loch Tarbert.
The boat is Speedwell of Glenariffe CN318. Her home port is Kilkeel in SE Northern Ireland some 240 kilometres away! Whatever, she was on full throttle and only making slow progress down the Sound of Islay.
After all this activity and hubbub died down Tony and I were left in peace. We spent some time just watching the tide rush by and picking ticks off our wrists and ankles. This was our luncheon, not a tick feast!
