Travelling to my new home on Isle of Lewis

I lost my desire to travel much, once I bought my new home on Isle of Lewis.  I am sure it will return but in the current climate I am happy to stay put.  I thought I would use the same blog to give updates on what I am doing and what new experiences I have.

I arrived here on 22nd July 2020.  Delayed from May due to lockdown.  Accompanied by my friend Debbie, a fellow photographer.  Debbie is staying and helping me settle in.  She loves Lewis as much as I.

We set off from Taunton, Somerset on Monday around 11.30am.  I had to wait for the removal men from Ark Removals to finish packing.  First stop was at a hotel near Darlington - Best Western Walworth Castle.  Nearly run out of petrol but luckily there was a Jet petrol station near the hotel.  Out just after 8am to Pitlochry stopping off to take photos at Loch Leven the RSPB reserve past the Forth bridge but before Perth.

Our hotel that night was McKays in Pitlochry.  We were shocked at the amount of people and the lack of social distancing there.  Luckily by the evening the town was quieter.  Had dinner in the Mediterranean restaurant Pashas.  Excellent pasta dishes.

Set off a little later the next morning stopping aoff at Silverbridge on A9 to take photos of the waterfalls.  Had a picnic snack lunch there.  

Waterfalls at Silverbridge

Into Ullapool around 2 pm.  Bought books and sat by the harbour in the sun.  Again very little social distancing being observed.  Masks being worn but not correctly.  It was obvious that most people kept taking the same mask off and putting it back on or wore it on their chin just the same as in England meaning that if the virus went on to the mask, they were putting the virus back on to their face!!!

We parked up for the ferry just before 4pm.  While Debbie sat in the car I waited for the ferry to arrive to look out for the Ark removal van.  The men had stayed in my house and were coming back on the 2pm ferry which we would be boarding for 5.30pm off.  Ark were at the front so I managed a few snaps.

Ark removals on their way back to Taunton

An uneventful journey broken by sightings of dolphins.  Masks on for 2 1/2 hours.  Jenny met us at my home.  She had brought provisions for the removal crew and left milk, bread and other lovely things for us.  We decided to keep our distance for the two weeks as a semi isolation just in case.

Thursday was shopping for food and popping in to Blue Lobster for espresso and to say hello.  Most of the shops are opening at 11am.  Had a look in the Home Improvement centre for bits for the house.  Back home and more unpacking and shifting stuff.  Debbie is a godsend.  I would not have cleared as much if not for her.  The previous owner had left furniture as he was going to send it to the charity shop.  I said I would be happy to keep anything and take stuff I would not use to the charity shop later.

Loch an Tiumpan is in front of my house and is beautiful.  Debbie and I sit on chairs right by the front windows in the lounge and watch the birds.  There is a heron and lots of greylag geese, a few divers which I think are pochard.  Lots of sparrows and there was a morning when we were having coffee and tea when lots of starlings appeared and looked at us as if to say where is the food.  The bird feeders that were in the front have gone so I must replace them.

View from the front lounge window at 5.20 am on Friday

Greylag geese of which there are many

Went up to the Tiumpan head lighthouse to do a cetacean watch.  Met a couple and then a man but no names exchanged - we talked about whales!  I am sure I will meet them again.  Saw a minke and apparently humpbacks are seen regularly.

Minke

View of Portvoller Bay from lounge back window

Bog cotton with Tiumpan lighthouse in the distance

On Thursday Debbie and I drove to the Loch an Duin which is near the Point showground and drove around the nearby villages.   We met a woman - Helen - with two hyper cockers.  She bought her house on line a few years ago and had never visited Lewis before.  That is brave.  She invited us to drop in anytime and we will once restrictions allow.

Drove to Pentland Road this afternoon for Debbie to take photos for her project and possible A panel.

Bell heather which is coming out now and will be at its best in August

Magpie moth

Sheep always feature

Multiple exposures of thistle and buttercups

I have a few workmen coming next week.  Chimney to be swept.  Quotes for double glazing as the windows are rusted up.  Now have a new TV but sound keeps going.  Hope that will be sorted out on Monday.  Also an inspection by an electrician due.

I finish this first instalment watching the pink sky reflected in the loch.  Hoping for otter to appear.   

Entry made in my written journal on Sunday 26th July

Woke to rain and wind so we decided not to go to Ness.  We relaxed in the morning and I prepared dinner - crofters pie.  We left late morning to drive locally.  Went to the bay at Shesader and then to Upper Bayble.  

Great Northern divers seen from the Braighe

Seal at Shesader

A happy time taking images of textures on old metal and I spotted these daisies blowing in the wind

Next we went to Aignish beach as apparently you can see seals on the rocks.  Debbie spotted a seal at Shesader and we saw another one at Aignish.  Then back home for a late lunch and an hour or two ordering stuff for the house.  Saw a few cars zooming up the the lighthouse (which is now a boarding kennels).  We thought they might have sightings of whales.  We went up at 5 pm but saw nothing and the wind was very cold.  Back for tea.  Had had some sun today and showers.

Debbie went into town on Monday for food shopping.  I stayed in to wait for the TV repairman who exchanged the tv he left me last week for an even bigger one and sorted out an amplifier for the signal.  Then the chimney sweep who could not get into the chimney as everything was fastened down.  Have to find someone to take the cowl off and he will come back again.  Discovered the multi fuel stove look like it needed tender loving care.  Debbie sent a photo to her husband Pete who then sent a list of stuff to buy and told me how I could sort it out.  In the midst of Debbie telling me, I lost the will to live.  I will find someone to do it while I spend my time taking photos and looking at the lovely scenery.  

Drove around Point in the afternoon for Debbie to take photos of abandoned houses.  

Tuesday a mad dash into Stornoway to see if Debbie could buy a bus ticket for Inverness from Ullapool but the ferry terminal no longer sells them.  Some shopping for the house and back home.  A very frustrating afternoon trying to buy the bus ticket on line and me trying to phone people with a very weak signal which meant no one could hear me.  Saw great northern divers from the Braigh - (causeway attaching Point to Lewis).

A beautiful evening for a short walk around the lock which meant we disturbed the heron (there are three about but we see the one most of the time).  As soon as we returned home it started to pour with rain.

A trip to Ness, the harbour, Butt of Lewis and Europie beach.  We stopped for tea at Wobbly Dog cafe which is delightful.  Cheese scones were very scrummy and their macaroons with chocolate - devine.  The beach had a lot of washed up moon jellyfish on it.  A happy time photographing them and patterns - photos to come.

Spent some time taking images of what we thought were skuas only to find they were immature gulls definitely need eyesight testing.

Lovely collie on Europadh beach

and loads of jellies

Not always pleasant images.  Gannet skull

Back to Thursday and shopping in Stornoway - lampshades and more crockery and cutlery.  No space in a two room flat but I have loads now and anticipate guests!!!  Hope to get around to putting more images on here but time goes by fast.  It may be windy and rainy but the sun comes out and we have blue sky so it seems a shame to sit in front of the computer.

Tolsta on Friday, Harris on Saturday, Reef and Mealastadh on Sunday.  Monday I went into town and Tuesday stayed on Point.  Managed to process a few photos today as it was wet so hopefully will put more up in the coming days.

Traigh mor at Tolsta

A blend of Tolsta heather

Debbie at the loch behind Traigh mor (big beach)

little girl jumping

A lovely day in Harris.  Stopped off at the Temple Cafe which opened on 1st August serving takeaways.  We bought a huge sourdough loaf and some cake.  I bought a homemade gooseberry jam which is very tasty.

Seilebost on Harris

One of the roads of the Bays

Field gentian

Loch an Tiumpan sunset

On Sunday we went to Reef and on to Mealastadh.  Met Elaine Murray, an artist who was the corvid curator for An Lanntair this week.  She has some lovely paintings www.elainemurray.co.uk  Elaine was camping out at Reef so I thought I would say hello.  Took lots of dog photos, plenty of Bonnie who belonged to a couple from Northumberland, it was their first time on Lewis and were loving it.

Colours of the sea

Harebells on Reef machair

also known as shell beach

Debbie

Bonnie

Colours of the sea

beach at Mealastadh

Rock landscape

On Wednesday it was a chilling day and I received my first visitors - Jenny, Murdo and Donald.  We kept our distance while I showed the house with my stuff in it.  Loads of wood in the shed, most of which went off in Murdo's car.  On Thursday it was Stornoway day and Friday we drove to Dal Mor and to the Pentland road for Debbie to take photos.  Had a recce at Portnaguran harbour for a possible sunset this evening.  It was beautiful last night but there is little composition from the house for sunset, only for sunrise.  Went on to Aignish beach and then to Bayble.  Bayble pier was packed with people and cars so we came home.

Whale and Dolphin board at Tiumpan head

Dal Mor

Poppies at Dal Mor

Waves at Dal Mor

Shaggy mane

Penteland Road between Carloway and Breaslete

Saturday to Aline and the walk down to Grigaspul, Loch Seaforth and then the boardwalk around the smaller loch.  On to Callanish.  I have taken many images of the stones so I have played with this image creating different types of images with blends of photos taken on this trip.

hoping these are firecrests but more likely to be goldcrests

Grigaspul on Loch Seaforth

More playing

baby bird

Blended with one of the Reef sea images and use of difference blend option

Blended with one of the Reef sea images and use of Hue blend option

Above and below with the same blend of shells but different blending options

Finally showed Debbie the Iolaire memorial on Sunday and a short walk along the beach from Mealabost (near the airport).  Afternoon back at home for Debbie to finish packing.

View of Stornoway from Iolaire memorial

I liked the peach colours the girls are wearing.

I took Debbie to the ferry early this morning and now home finishing off this post.  I will post more if I take anything new.  Probably a new post will wait for the next visitor to arrive.