A month on Isle of Lewis Part I

Had hoped to have a year on Lewis but had to compromise.  I was here for 6 weeks in 2012 but left before Christmas.  Will spend the festive season here this time.

I left Taunton at 5.30am.  It was 11 degrees C.  I arrived in Larkhall just south of Glasgow at about 2 pm and it had fallen to 6 degrees.  Had a lovely stay and catch up with Helen and George.  Set off at 9.30am the next day.  A snow fall just north of Pitlochry slowed me down - 30 mph on the dual carriageways and it was now 0 degrees.  Luckily I heard on the radio that there was a queue ahead as a lorry was stuck in the snow.  I turned down towards Blair Athol and found a garage for a comfort stop.  Returning to the A9, I thought I had missed the jam - no, I was stuck there with several others for 2 hours.  Luckily I was able to take pics of the snowy landscape - images for next year's Christmas cards!

Once the lorry was cleared, it was an easy journey, arriving in Ullapool at about 4.30pm - warmed up to 2 degrees.  I stayed in the Ferry Boat Inn - a comfortable stay for one night.  I preferred the ambiance of the Seaforth Inn for dinner though.  The ferry crossing was very calm with the first sunshine the island has had for awhile.  Dashed to the cottage at Callanish Visitor Centre as I had had an invitation to play bridge with the Stornaway Bridge Club at Newton Community Hall.  My friend Jenny was missing, however.  She had been delayed flying from Glasgow with her mum and husband but arrived in time for some of the playing and the excellent fish and chips.

Spent Sunday unpacking, baking bread and making soup.  I did manage a short walk and a few snaps of the stones.

Callanish stones

Callanish Visitor Centre with the Farmhouse cottage and my car in front.  Note the snow on the hills in the background.

I have taken this image several times before

I went into Stornoway on Monday to meet with Jenny, Murdo, Jenny's mum, Anne and Donald for lunch at An Lanntair.  Coffee at Delights beforehand and after lunch an hour at the Co-op stocking up.  I took several shots of the ice on my car and then some of the Stornoway windows.  Just one here of the reflection of Lews Castle.  The northern lights visited Callanish later that evening but I had the curtains closed so missed them!!!!!

I visited Loch na Muilne, the RSPB reserve at Arnol on Tuesday.  The geese flew off as I arrived and I thought there was nothing there.  I noticed a flapping of wings in the distance and took the images of the golden eagle.  It looks as if it has some prey but no sign of this when it was in flight.  It was just a bit too far away for my lens though.  I returned to Callanish for lunch and thought as I had the long lens on, I would take a stroll by Loch Roag.  There are a few waders on the loch and I went to side on the camping pods disturbing a heron as I did.  There was nothing there and it was in shade and quite dark.  I was just about to return to the busier side of the loch when I noticed a movement to my left.  An otter - my first sighting on Lewis.  As I started clicking it turned towards me and swam to me.  It was looking at me all the time and obviously knew I was there.  It didn't seem to mind me and spent about 5 minutes exploring the land.  If I see nothing else on this scenic island, it will not matter - that was one of my best experiences to date.

If you enlarge by clicking you can see the eagle is trying to pick up a leg of what I would guess is a deer.

Eagle failed and flew off

Sunshine but about 0 degrees and icy

I drove to Ness on Wednesday mainly to fill up with fuel at Barvas.  No images but I took the memorial which I don't remember when I was here in May.

A visit to Reef beach on a very windy day on Thursday.  It has warmed up but the rain has returned.  I could see it was clearing up in the distance.  I slowed down for the shepherd on the Uig road.  I wanted to do the walk inland from Reef beach which I had started in 2012 but although I managed a little more it was too windy to go further.  Another time.

I have taken this one before from the Bernera road

Two images taken just before the turnoff to Bhaltos - the sheep were posing so I could not resist.

From the ruined blackhouses to the beach

Wind on the loch.  A gust had already pushed me off a rock so I was a little wary.

On the way back

A misty rain today so staying local.   An opportunity to write the blog, make soda bread.  Hopefully I will do a short stroll this afternoon.

The rain and wind have returned so nothing doing with my photography.  I tried to find a walk on Point on Saturday but ended up driving around doing a recce for later.

Had a lovely Sunday at St Moluag's church Christingle service.  Lighting is by oil and candles which gives it a lovely ambience.  Images below.

And an image taken by Jenny's friend Jane.

 I have caught my first cold for a long time so chilling out with hot mugfuls of Ribena Winter spice.  Did go into Stornoway and visited a new cafe - Artisan in Church Street.  It was full when I was there - coffee good and there are goodies upstairs to buy too.

More wind and rain then a noise alerted me to a new weather change - image below.

Large hailstones

More wind, sleet and rain as I was going to bed.  A couple of atmospheric images taken from the front porch of the cottage.

I braved the wind to go to the stones this afternoon.  There was a brief lull in the rain, sleet, hail and brief sunshine, which have been happening the last two days - getting worse this evening apparently.

These two images were taken within seconds of each other.

Had to take this sheep chewing grass, on my way back. 

Christmas Day saw me out of bed by 8 am before sunrise at 9.30 am ish.  Up to the stones for photos.  Very peaceful.

Picked up at 11 am and taken to Jenny and Murdo's for Christmas dinner.  A good time was had by all.

Playing about with one of Jenny's glasses

The sun over the loch taken through the window around 2.30 pm ish

Jenny's photos from Christmas lunch

All around the table

Paddy Sue and I

Jenny and Murdo

Jenny and I

 On Boxing Day I went out to the loch (Loch Roag) to see if the otter was about.  S/he was but although s/he saw me and came nearer to look, s/he didn't come up on the bank and disappeared after my last image.  I left her/him in peace.

A very cold wind has arrived and the rain so I will be chilling the rest of the day.  Can not really beat the otter experiences.