The Final Day

Indeed, the final day occurred a few days ago, for now i am safely home. But the last day was a grand one! The ferry ride from Mull to the mainland was smooth as silk--

 See the sailboat pass Duart Castle, the lighthouse with mountains far behind--

and, to starboard as we approached Oban...

Turning left ashore, we drove north to find the Castle Stalker Viewpoint. Another icon--an old tower house sited on a loch. Would have been a good defensive location but kind of lonely, I think. Still, lovely!

A couple hours to Glasgow, dinner and a farewell to Bill and Mary. I hope they're getting close to home too.

The Bay at the Back of the Ocean

Today gusty wind and gray, drizzly rain

Yesterday breeze, sunshine and blue sky

Not the ideal day to return to Iona for a long walk, I sorted and packed for a few hours, then went over to the island! Carol, our B&B hostess in Fionnphort (pronounced something like 'fin-i-fft said quickly), phoned her friend Lindsay on Iona and he met my ferry in the rain--in his taxi!!!! The one and only on Iona.

Lindsay drove me on each of the five miles of road, and I was able to see what I'd planned to see a pied, including 'the bay at the back of the ocean' and the golf course!  A gentle and interesting fellow, he and his wife will be visiting 'the States' in October to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Flying into LA, they'll drive north up Highway 1 to San Francisco, see Yosemite and Sequoia en route to Las Vegas and fly home from there. I mentioned popping over to Tahoe and driving down 395 to Tioga into Yosemite; he wasn't  aware of the possibility, so will examine his maps more closely.

Bill and Mary left this morning to visit a castle or two, it's lonely here without them. Tomorrow we'll ferry from Mull to Oban after a one-hour drive, then north to look at Castle Stalker, lunch at Inveraray Castle and Gardens, finally reach Glasgow and our spend our final night. I will fly away Thursday morning, Bill and Mary Thursday night, our odyssey completed.

It has been a wonderful trip, I am grateful for the opportunity to see and experience all that I have as well as to learn more about who I am now without Chuck, that's a continuing odyssey in itself.

 

A Quick Recovery!

I am on Iona, sitting atop the knob in front of the Abbey where St Columba himself had his writing shack and where he welcomed visitors to the island. As you can see from the following photos, there is sunshine today. A breeze as well, but a a gentle one though I am admittedly well-bundled, fearing a relapse of my cold.  A very good day!!! This is my view from up here.

Bill and Mary's longer cruise to Staffa and beyond was cancelled so they had to settle for Staffa alone. I hope the breeze was not troubling to them; Mary is so keen on seeing more puffins!!!

And I have realized, following a good night's sleep, that my creative juices have not dried up, that beauty and truth remain in this world, nourished by sunshine and yes, by rain as well.