Sailing Misty: Lochinver to Kyle of Lochalsh

7th to 9th July
Lochinver-Staffin Bay (Skye)-Loch Carron-Kyle of Lochalsh
http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/135134

Strong winds meant staying a few days at Lochinver. Staying a few days has many benefits:
- good walks (there’s an imaginative selection near Lochinver – walks for children, and a pretty walk up the salmon-fishing River Inver);
- a super-scenic bus trip to Ullapool where the first ever international skiff-rowing races were about to start - with a royal person to set them off (for rowing experts, skiff looks like smaller version of the Scilly Island gig);
- and the pleasure of meeting others in their various quests for sailing leisure, adventure or challenge.

Walks at Lochinver

...but she wasn't here...

One of many dreams and wishes adorning the tree

River Inver

Practice before the world championships, but a bit choppy

It’s in the spirit of British weather that strong winds change overnight to inadequate fluky puffs! But there was a comfortable breeze for some of the 50 miles south to Skye, destinations changing no less than four times as fickle wind directed me first one way then another. Staffin Bay, where I finally ended up, off the coast of Skye had a fine anchorage. Instructions said to anchor beneath two two-storey cottages (not too clear when the area seemed to have dozens of cottages. Maybe Skye has a building boom.)

Up early yesterday for tacking south again. Lunch on the island of Rona where Bill Cowie, the manager, filled me in on bits of his very full life. He does look incredibly young for his age so, contrary to what you may think, very hard work with not a lot of money on a little island must be good for you.

Church Cave (the stones form pews) on Rona

The afternoon eased into one of those rare and magic Scottish Island evenings with a perfect breeze, calm and almost deserted sea (excluding a submarine, some dolphins and seals, and two sailing boats) and the fairytale mountains of Skye and mainland to set the scene. I didn’t want to stop! But anchoring in rocky unlit spots is always best done before dusk, so I did. Little Strathie Bay is near but less busy than Plockton and a young family was enjoying a bonfire of driftwood at their wild