Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull

Moving into Tobermory last night meant we avoided the bad weather. As nice as the town is, its pubs and restaurants don't close until after midnight, so the town doesn't quieten down for the night until around one o'clock.

After a wet start first thing the sun arrived, transforming the inky blue sea into the blue green waters of a tropical paradise. We didn't intend to spend the day in Tobermory, but Marge attracts so much attention we seem to be constantly talking to interested people about her and showing them around our humble abode. May have to start charging. Perhaps we should fit a donation box to her. Today's top comment about her. 'That's a cool machine'. Yes she is.

A German lady in a different type of pop top Defender showed us how her layout worked. It was very impressive, but definitely a lady plus dog only size only.

Out in the marina beautiful sailing boats sit on their berths. One from Holland. Sailing over at the beginning of the season and spending the summer taking visitors around the islands. Tall ship sailing is popular here, but it comes at a price. Yet more washing done, we readied to leave. John had a cousin who lived in Tobermory for many years, who sadly passed away a short while ago. Angela spotted her husband approaching the post office situated at the entrance to the car park. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Sadly his health has deteriorated and he didn't know who we were. Shame.

The weather today has been an improving picture. We've only waited around four weeks. So tonight we returned to Loch Na Keal. The eggs in the oyster catchers nest now hatched, we watched the young on the shore with their parents. Then suddenly, happy with our presence the parents paraded three fluffy furry children right in front of us. Brilliant! Last time we stayed here at the loch we spotted an otter in the water.

There is evidence that an otter has been feeding here recently, so we hope we'll see one this time. Everyone who visits Mull wants to see an otter, but they don't just step out in front of you waving hello. Patience, persistence and luck are the only way.

This evening just us and one other van, the oyster catchers, highland cattle and the sheep tottering about on their stick legs. Why can't everywhere be this peaceful and beautiful?

Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull

Staying overnight in Tobermory had been the right decision. Despite being sheltered by the buildings we could still hear the roar of the strong wind as it blew down the sound of Mull. This morning, cold and damp the coloured houses alongside the harbour made for brightness amongst the gloom. We couldn't believe a few days ago when we were here we'd dried our towels and T-shirts laid on the Land Rover bonnet in the afternoon sun. Today however, two coats, scarves and hats were required. Unless of course you're a Scottish postman, where shorts and polo shorts were the dress code of the day. Whilst we breakfasted, once again inside, a cruise ship appeared in the harbour.

Within half an hour it left, it's passengers probably wishing they'd taken a Caribbean cruise instead. Eventually the rain abated and despite the gloomy conditions we walked out along the harbour side stopping at the Mull Museum. Free entry so of course we stepped inside. The tiny museum turned out to be very interesting. Who'd have thought extra policemen were recruited on the island during the war to check pigeons for messages. Whilst we've been on Mull we have seen one police vehicle and no ambulances, even when Angela attended Craignure hospital. All the time we've been on the island we've felt very safe. What a difference from our home town of Poole. 

Much of the morning had been taken up with John trying to register his drone. But we managed another walk before leaving up to the viewpoint where a robin befriended us, following us all the way back to the car park. So sweet. 

We have now been away from home for two weeks. Our total spend on overnight stops and showers has been £80.00. We're happy with that. And you won't be surprised to hear we've decided to stay on the island another night. The forecast tomorrow is for a better day. Fingers crossed. So we'll definitely head over to the mainland. Probably. 

Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull (day 2)

There are not many days that start more perfect than today. This morning the sun was up early in a cloudless sky. The air warm and apart from distant birdsong, almost silent. And Angela felt a lot better. So all good. However, the forecast for tomorrow and the next few days is not good. Heavy rain, oh dear. We will have to make sure we are very organized in our very compact living space which we share with  the Boxio.

Today we decided to stay at the Loch. Why wouldn't we, it's beautiful here, and the driving on the island is so challenging it was good for John to take a day off. So this morning we walked along the shore to the left, spotting yet more oyster catchers nests and this afternoon we walked along the shore to the right, stopping to check on the raven sat on it's nest, unhappy at our presence.

On the beach John found his ultimate prize, the skull and antlers of a deer, albeit small, but antlers. Don't worry Marge, he won't be fixing them to your bull bar. Well hope fully not. When we return home they will take pride of place on John's shelf of curiosities. After lunch, a couple pulled up in a very smart Land Rover Discovery. Could they have a photograph? Of course, oh, not us. You guessed it the words out there's a celebrity on the island. From Skipton in Yorkshire, they invited us to call in if we were passing. How nice.

So a quiet, relaxing, productive day for us today. With the change in the weather, we made sure our washing was up to day. The wind whipped across the loch blowing our smalls like semaphore flags. Further along a Dutch couple were also drying washing. Goodness knows what messages we were sending to each other.

We will assess the weather situation in the morning. We are not far from Lochbuie and will probably return there. It is just so peaceful here on Mull, we can't describe it. We're not ready to leave just yet, as it seems are many others. Everyday vehicles pass by we have seen at another location in the last few days. Another fire on the beach tonight, probably our last for a while. The message our smoke signals will be sending is, please don't rain too much.

Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull

What a beautiful evening yesterday. The sunniest and warmest so far. Next to us on the camping area were a young couple in a VW Transporter hire van. Not just the young couple, but a baby and toddler as well. At seven o' clock, the trials and tribulations of putting young children to bed began. We laughed a little at the shenanigans remembering with fondness those bygone days. The excuse, 'it's not dark yet' still applies, and made us laugh. Just before ten when we retired all was quiet. Good luck tomorrow night parents, when you have to go through it all once again.

This morning another beautiful start to the day. Barely a wisp of cloud in the baby blue sky. Mid morning two Australian registered vehicles pulled in unaware that it was not a parking area. Unloaded from the vehicle three labradors, chairs and parasols. The dogs left to wander while us and the other campers all watched thinking the same thought. Will they or won't they pick up? After a while they did. For goodness sake people.

Today we decided to drive to Tobermory, called a village here, but to us it's the big town. The drive over the hills was once again challenging. Nothing new there then. And of course it was during that moment we received a telephone call. House viewing at the weekend? Couldn't say no to that could we. We're desperate to sell.

Tobermory is beautiful, more so in the light of the afternoon sun. We did a 'big shop' at the little Co-Op and used the showers at the marina. Two pounds for seven minutes of blissful hot water. 

Just before Salen we saw the hulks of three fishing boats.

The weather today has been stunning and we decided to head back over to nearby Loch Na Keal for another night. The oyster catchers nest still has three eggs in it, but the plovers only has three instead of four. Sadly it looks like someone has taken one. Once again we will cook on the shore whilst enjoying the extraordinary views. 

Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull

Late yesterday evening we joined the other campers to watch a peach of a sun lower in the sky. At the same time the wind direction swung to the north. Coats on everyone.

This morning the cold wind continued. Cooking outside was a challenge for John. But omelettes have to be made. 

Before packing up a young couple from New Zealand stopped to take a look at our set up. Awesome, did you hear that Muddy Marge, you're starting to become the centre of attention, which is fine except when we want to be on your way. A second couple from South Africa also wanted to give her the once over. The man all over her like a rash. We can see we are going to have to accept this attention will probably continue wherever we travel. Finally ready to set off we gave the South Africans a Muddy Marge car, (yes she has cards), so they could follow our blog.

Today we intended to visit some waterfalls. But driving on Mull is a long slow process, which goes with the territory.

There is of course photographs to take, and spotting a pretty stone bridge we knew it was one for the album.

Early afternoon we arrived at Loch Na Keal realising we'd parked up here overnight on our last visit to the island. We found the same spot, settled in and then took a walk out, spotting a ravens nest on a ledge amongst the boulders.

There'd be no visit to the waterfalls today. Oh well there's always tomorrow.

Tonight we spoke to another camper who showed us the nests of an Oyster Catcher (3 eggs), and a Plover (4 eggs). These are on the beach right in front of the vans, so we will now keep off the beach.

Yes Angela was cold, and wearing quite a few layers, she had not had a few Weetabix as her son suggested :)