Highlands and Islands 2018 (2 Viewers)

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We’ve decided to come back to Borve ccc. It’s only 10 mins or so drive from the ferry . Just after the posh white beach hotel on the left , if anyone knows the area .
We’ve got phone and internet signal so we can be updated with the ferry for tomorrow morning .
They’re updating info at 7.30pm tonight on the website .
We know it’s sheltered and safe weather wise here too and the showers are red hot and spotless haha .
Nice steak for tea tonight and a night in drinking gin , watching telly and looking at the rough seas .
Stay safe anyone else traveling anywhere too .

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Pitched up for the night .
Don’t come a knocking when Pugs a rocking !

We will move to our more sheltered , spot a bit later on .
Night all .

 

[kelpie]

We’ve decided to come back to Borve ccc

Good decision , stayed three nights there and "toured " the island. Donald , the owner, is very shy and is also the local postman pat. Will go back to Borve next summer , or possibly March if I thought the ferry would be smoothish. Might go via Skye as it's a shorter crossing.
As for gin , haven't had it for forty odd years until last Tuesday. Went to Glenmore campsite in Cairngorm , and the pub which was two minutes walk had a terrific selection of craft beers and spirits. Ended up on rhubarb flavoured gin and ginger ale, was lovely I think.
Have a safe night and a good crossing.
John

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[dotsontour]

Good decision ! Donald is a very nice man . As you say it’s spotless in the shower area . And there are tea coffe for those backpacking.
You can sit for hours watching the seals .
Hope your ferry gets away , if not back to Donald’s

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Yay
All being well, we have to board the ferry from 8.15am tomorrow .
Then wait till they think it’s safe ( ) to start sailing from after 9am
So as it would be rude not to, the bar is open.
46% Chin chin

With the recommended Mediterranean tonic .
Cheers big ears
My fave gin is Edinburgh Gin rhubarb and ginger. It’s only 18% too.

 

[abforfun]

Good decision , stayed three nights there and "toured " the island. Donald , the owner, is very shy and is also the local postman pat. Will go back to Borve next summer , or possibly March if I thought the ferry would be smoothish. Might go via Skye as it's a shorter crossing.
As for gin , haven't had it for forty odd years until last Tuesday. Went to Glenmore campsite in Cairngorm , and the pub which was two minutes walk had a terrific selection of craft beers and spirits. Ended up on rhubarb flavoured gin and ginger ale, was lovely I think.
Have a safe night and a good crossing.
John

And which one was you kelpie, we were also in that pub last night

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[big bertha]

Yay
All being well, we have to board the ferry from 8.15am tomorrow .
Then wait till they think it’s safe ( ) to start sailing from after 9am
So as it would be rude not to, the bar is open.
46% Chin chin

With the recommended Mediterranean tonic .
Cheers big ears
My fave gin is Edinburgh Gin rhubarb and ginger. It’s only 18% too.

Had that Edinburgh Gin and Fevertree tonic a couple of weeks ago in a teapot with this afternoon tea, very enjoyable.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

That looks fabulous @big bertha , lucky you what a treat.
Mmmmmmmmmm it’s making me hungry.
I’m trying to be good on a low carb diet . That’s just making my mouth water !

 

[big bertha]

That looks fabulous @big bertha , lucky you what a treat.
Mmmmmmmmmm it’s making me hungry.
I’m trying to be good on a low carb diet . That’s just making my mouth water !

It was second prize in a raffle won by my sis who kindly took me along, had to take a doggy bag home.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[kelpie]

And which one was you kelpie, we were also in that pub last night

I was there with my son. we went in at some point on each night , Tues was the daft night , Wed just a few , and Thurs just a couple as I was driving on Friday. Thurs there was a singer who gave almost everyone an "instrument ".
What night were you in?

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Morning all. We’ve both been awake for hours stressing about , what looks like is going to be a rough crossing from Barra to Oban .
We came down to the Castle Bay before light and have just had breakfast . Hopefully we’ll be able to sail .

You can see the castle in the bay to the left of the ferry .
It’s still very very windy .

 

[Ivory55]

Is there much back log . Thinking of the freight that would of been waiting.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[34127]

Good Luck

 

[funflair]

Wow, I have just spent an hour catching up with this thread, great thanks for posting @Ralph-n-Bev

Martin

 

[abforfun]

I was there with my son. we went in at some point on each night , Tues was the daft night , Wed just a few , and Thurs just a couple as I was driving on Friday. Thurs there was a singer who gave almost everyone an "instrument ".
What night were you in?

I think it was Tuesday, there was a guy with a guitar, it was quite full when we arrived, we sat in the corner behind the singer

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Is there much back log . Thinking of the freight that would of been waiting.

There were 3 big wagons and a couple of smaller vans . Not as many as I thought actually. We’re on board now. It’s a bit swayie and we aren’t even away from the dock yet. We’re still tied up There’s lots of sick bags strategically placed around the ferry ! Winds are suposed to drop to 26 mph at midday so that’s good.
We’ve been parked right at the front in the middle so no chance of car doors pranging Pugs sides so that’s a bonus. But there’s a painters scaffold tower to the side of us . I hope it’s tied down well !

 

[kelpie]

I think it was Tuesday, there was a guy with a guitar, it was quite full when we arrived, we sat in the corner behind the singer

Morning,
Singer was Thurs night and we sat on window ledge at the door . You must have been beside the "singing" collie , every song with a mouth organ piece the collie sang along , think my son got some video on his phone.
Well stocked wee pub , will go back. It's being leased out at end of October according to the guy behind the bar. Probably drive up before skiing season starts , but would like a little snow for photographs,
Hope you're having a safe journey .
John

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Well it’s a lovely bright day out at sea. It’s calmed down a bit but there’s still a big swell. Thats not rain on the glass . The waves are crashing right up the sides of the ferry onto the windows. Lots of green gilled people staggering around. But we’re both ok and so is Buster.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DavidG58]

Hopefully all will soon go calm when you get in between Mull and Ardnamurchan

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

That’s taken a while to post . We are now in nice and calm seas .
Due to dock at 3pm
Here

 

[kelpie]

That’s taken a while to post . We are now in nice and calm seas .
Due to dock at 3pm
Here
View attachment 256722

That's just past Ardnamurchan lighthouse , should be very sheltered now. I don't like that crossing as you're on the boat for over five hours on a calm day , our collie was bored rigid.
Good to hear you're nearly back on the mainland .
keep safe .
John

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We left Buster in Pug for an hour when we first boarded and had a big full monty breakfast .
Then went back down for him . He’s been ok .
He’s layed down getting sand out of his pads atm . But we have had a few walks about the ferry with him and have been right up on the top outside .
There’s lots of dog areas onboard this one on all levels too . Which makes it easier if you have a dog . One the small ones the space is somewhat limited.
He’s easily pleased though

as long as he has his rat and us .

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We’re in Moffat now . It’s a favourite town of ours we’ve spent the last several New Year’s Eve up here. We normally spend it at Brodies Restaurant when we stop off on our way up ,further North , then again on the way home .

We’ve had a nice long walk and have been amazed at all the trees blown down and branches snapped off . They’ve had it bad here .
We were talking to a couple who came up yesterday , they said they had to stop off at Gretna for 2 hours as the weather was so rough .
I think we’ve been very lucky out on the Hebredise . We’ve got off very lightly .

We’ve been in Brodies gin bar for a while tonight and tried a few gins.
Then the Star and tried a few more and are finishing off at Annandale with a double bunnahabain whisky each .
Then back to Pug and Buster and bed .

As you can tell I’m a bit piss3d

 

[DavidG58]

Like the look of that bar, do you pour your own

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Like the look of that bar, do you pour your own

they’d soon be out of business if they let you ( in particular !) do that

 

[big bertha]

Love Moffat, recognise all the walks but not the bars Might pay a visit in November.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

We’ve had a lovely last day of our 18 day trip up up North .
Spent in one of our favourite regular places to visit , Moffat .
We’ve been out walking today for a few hours . We forgot the phone ! So no pics . Arggghh.
The weather , although colder , has been very sunny .

Once back in town we had a cream tea at Ariete , sat outside , as we had Buster with us .

Ralph bought me a bottle of moffat toffee gin . No tonic needed !

Then out early doors for more gin and beer ... a couple of drinks in Brodies .
Then over to the Star which do great gins ( and other spirits ) in big 35ml servings .

I had a Whitley Niel raspberry gin pimped up with rose petals , raspberries and juniper berries which I’ve not had before .

We had a lovely meal at Moffats Italian restaurant Claudio’s .
I’m doing a very low carb diet (keto) and although I was doing well , it’s gone slightly to pot while we’ve been away .
( I’ll be on it like a car bonnet honest @Gromett once back home )
So I thought in for a penny, and all that .

Ralph had Bruschetta I had garlic prawns , then we had steak and seafood pasta then finished off with raspberry panacotta and rhubarb crumble along with a bottle of prosecco and a couple of brandies came to £85 . Great food good price and always spot on . We thoroughly recommend as we’ve Always had a good meal when ever we’ve visited .
Over to the Annandale for a couple of Bunnahabhain to finish off the night .

It’s home time tomorrow .

But it’s also Ralphs 52nd Bithday !
So I want to wish him many more happy years touring around in Pug
( with me , of course !)
Love him lots and lots.
We’ve had a a fantastic time together on this trip .
Next year we think we’re going to go Hebridian later , maybe end of October / beginning of November !

We are up in Moffat , again this year Boxing Day till the 4/5 January .

Hope those that have looked in , on the thread have enjoyed it .
Cheers xx

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DavidG58]

Happy birthday Ralph, not sure if its today or tomorrow

Thanks both of you for sharing your trip with us

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Tomorrow David ,
And your very welcome x
That’s me , your other Bev , not Ralph ....

 

[irnbru]

G

came to £85

Goodness me, I could live off of that for a month. Thats way OTT for me.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}