Gales & barriers.

"No kite flying in this eh Tanya." I said as we slowly emerged into the morning after a night of rock n roll sleep as Sadie weathered the continuing force nine going on ten gale. Our spot just above Bostadh beach, Lewis, with its restored Iron age house and the tide and time Bell, one of twelve distributed at various beaches around the UK, was a wild location and the weather a dramatic change on the previous day. Such are the Hebrideas.

Indeed the day before we had enjoyed a wonderful sun drenched walk and climb to Ceapabhal followed by a skinny dip in the sea this time at the breeze sheltered end of a glorious white sand beach about a mile from where we had spent the night at Taobh Tuath, just up from Leverburgh, Isle of Harris.

I am sometimes reluctant to spend more than one night at a wildcamping spot where I see it is regularly used by locals for various leisure activities. So with the sun still shining we had slowly made our way to our current Atlantic gale bearing site. Very slowly in fact as narrow roads, stunning scenery at every twist and turn of the road and frequent 'passing place' stops do not equate to even medium, never mind fast, speed.

The weather was not improving so on we went. This time to the Butt of Lewis with a stop to visit the Callanaish stones. The site of the stones had a very good and well designed visitor centre. Even with the gale still blowing as it was I was able to sit in the sheltered courtyard with Tanya and enjoy a cup of coffee, half a sausage roll (guess who had the other half?) And a slice of very yummy apple pie.

Refreshing also was the emphasis the visitor centre exhibition put on not knowing the real meaning behind these circles and lines of stones. My take on it has an Olympic theme. "Right teams ready..... you've got your stones, rolling timbers and ropes and you have to move it one hundred deer leaps to before standing it up in the prepared hole. On your marks ...... GO!!" I figure it's as good a guess as any other with the winning team getting first pick at the barbecued seal.

The Butt of Lewis was interesting too albeit in a different way. Such a treeless and bare promontory in a force ten gale is no place to try and stand for a human never mind a three and a half going on four legged dog. We kept well away from any edges that was for sure.
The northern end of the Isle of Lewis is a flat and treeless landscape of peat moor, lakes and scattered communities. Sadie being a large box type house on wheels was, now we were heading across the island toward Stornaway, finding it quite difficult to stay on the road in the savage crosswind and horizontal rain. Slow going and dedicated concentration saw me pleased to finally drop down into Stornaway and its slightly less windy ferry terminal where we booked ourselves onto the six am ferry across to Ullapool.

A bollocking and a 'made to wait delay' was received from the 'jobsworth' ferry queue attendant before we finally boarded, set sail & enjoyed the full breakfast on offer in the cafe. Well I am getting older and I thought last arrival was 35minutes before boarding not 45minutes which is why I was faced with a barrier and the ferry queues on the other side of it. I thought I showed intelligence and initiative by noticing my obstruction was an unmanned. I unlocked the barrier which was very quickly negotiated placing me on the right side and at the back of the boarding qeue. Hmmmm! CCTV.  Need I say more! Never mind. Jobsworth seemed to thoroughly enjoy his power wielding and I managed to keep a straight face as I offered my abject, and of course completely sincere apologies.

You just have to laugh as these continual 'barriers' to life pursue you......!