Hello North Uist

Saturday May 13

After a comfortable night at Skyehaven B and B, we left for the ferry terminal at Uig. I'm wearing the only watch of mine which had a working battery,  all five others (!) were dead. After a conversation re time - I was dawdling - I discovered that mine had stopped. Dunvegan wasn't far away and Pam had never been there. What a small village for the seat of the McLeods and its castle. We tried to see the castle, it's completely hidden from view from all directions - apart from the sea I suppose.
Ah well. What do the Uist folk do when their batteries expire?
The ferry was 23 minutes late coming in and almost identically late leaving. As invalid passengers - me - we have to put on our hazard lights and get parked on board behind big lorries which take up two lanes. That gives us plenty of room to get in and out (Pam once had to get in via a car window) and we are situated next to a lift. Bliss not having to do all those vertical stairs.
We shared the boat with, amongst others, 10 vanloads of Scottish soldiers in deser dress. Their berets had lavender pompoms on top. Apparently similar numbers have been arriving for the previous three days. We were not impressed, paunches do not become the military and many of them smoked. We deduced this from the constant procession passing us to go up to the upper deck where it is allowed. We sit one deck down at the stern, which is covered in but, unfortunately, has railings all round. 
Sealife was busy until we left Skye coast behind us, that takes about an hour of the hour and three quarters voyage. We saw many auks, the most numerous being Puffins, in biggish groups, I counted 30 in one flotilla. Razorbills, Guillemots and a few Black Guillemots, Gannets, Fulmar and a few Kittiwakes. Excitement, a fast and direct flying Great Skua headed away from us towards Skye.
Such a calm crossing, virtually no wind. We were still pleased to reach Lochmaddy on North Uist in a speedy disembarkation and drive the twenty miles to our cottage, An't Seann Dachaid, 100 metres from the turning to the RSPB reserve at Balranald. Lovely to arrive to its familiarity, this is our second year here.
Due to my left knee problem, Pam bears the brunt of the legwork, I did help as much as I was able. This is a very windy place, having tested the wind direction, I assembled the moth trap and we placed it in a reasonably sheltered corner at the front. Not ideal, it should be safe for the night.
 We were glad to have an early night.
 

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