Tobermory to Loch Aline

It was scary - the sun came out. So, our departure from Tobermory did not involve warm waterproof clothing. Instead, we got to see the colourful properties around the harbour:

The simple route to Loch Aline, down the Sound of Mull, was accomplished on the flybridge. Yes, on the flybridge and we were not wrapped up in electric blankets either. The first proper full flybridge trip ot the year. Sad really isn't it?:

It was a lovely trip, enjoying the scenery and warmth for once. We happily popped into the loch around high water - going in before we were down to 0.6 metres under the keel in places, the 2.5 metres we had this time seemed rather generous in comparison. 

A walk, a long chat to Shandelle the lady from down under who lives in the area, plays a double bass and makes violins followed. Most interesting indeed, we now have vastly extended our understanding of the violin manufacturing world again.

After a slightly misty (slightly??) evening the sun managed to burn through again and we raided the excellent community cafe once more. Fuelled by a huge piece of carrot cake we walked around the commercial timber wharf and back into the town. En route we got to enjoy what is, unfortunately, a typical local scene:

Dead and discarded "stuff" and old machines just dumped to rust away or gently decompose. Why oh why... To be fair, the big loader on the right of the picture is still in use and the dump truck too. From higher up in the village you get to see the Sound of Mull in all its glory:

A most impressive area that the little phone camera cannot do justice to. Shame but we know just how impressive the views are. Back in the harbour area we were amused by the name on this rather ugly aluminium craft:

You can play spot the Nordhavn too. The evening was much enlivened by an invite to drinks on board a Trader Motor Yacht with some folks we briefly met in Tobermory. We were treated to the usual Norn Iron (yes, they were from there) warm welcome.

A very boring statistic for you - the fixed post about fuel consumption (Fuel burn link) has now had over 3,500 reads and many of them have been quite recent. Wonder what could have driven that?!? We find that more and more fast powerboats are travelling along at sedate speeds now. Not good for their engines but saving fuel becomes a huge topic. So glad we have a slow and relatively low powered Nordhavn that doesn't slurp the diesel, just sips it.

Maintenance News:

Normally, we treat the external teak with Boracol at the start and end of the season to stop the nasty green goo growing on it. As it had been such a wet and miserable spring and summer so far up here, the captain treated it to a mid-season coat as well. More rain and less sun = less UV damage to the gelcoat but a way tougher time for the teak and covers.