Day 63

Canna to Rhum

F4/5 W. Left at 8:50 and arrived 11:25. 14 miles.

Wind hit us when we were out of the shelter of Canna. Went down to Jib only.

Engine on to charge batteries. Rough rolling seas.

Manx shearwaters flew behind us, banking and shearing like tiny aircraft.

Confusing fish farm (mussel farm when we got nearer) looked like a rock. Ferry came in and out with no AIS. Strong squally winds coming down the valley.

Picked up a mooring buoy. Looking at Kinloch Castle in the trees. Poor phone signal.

Took the dingy (with engine due to the wind) to explore the various landing options. Ladders down from a small harbour wall with seaweed covered steps, but the stones were sharp and covered in small sharp limpets. Went along to a newer concrete slipway and managed to climb out, tying the ropes to a ring.

Visited the outside of the sandstone Kinloch Castle. Closed but could peer in some of the stained glass windows to see the Japanese artefacts delivered by the Emperor of Japan. Paul walked towards Kilmory and we took the trail to the otter hide via woods and an abandoned village. (Chris saw an otter in the evening at Loch Boisdale). Low lying rocks in a sheltered bay are where they hang out but we didn’t see any.

Met up again at the castle, then retrieved the dingy and motored back with wind behind us.