Weekly Chat (non-osprey) Sunday, September 12, 2021

Hallo all!

  • PAT - sorry you can't yet get back on the road home - best wishes for tomorrow. Glad you enjoyed Perth's hospitality.

    LINDA - I wondered whether the young man with the shoulder injury was one of Sue's brood. I hope he will continue to be more comfortable, although strapped up - and enjoy some nursing care. Dogs really do know how to relax - at the same time remaining alert not to miss what is going on!

    CLARE and LIMPY - have a great time in Mull - and don't push yourselves too hard to get around everything - better to make a few good memories than remember a tiring trek around it all!

    Weather turned cooler here - and today some light rain. Washing machine has gone "bang" so out of action until next Wednesday at least. We seem to have had it since 2012, so not bad, I suppose, but very inconvenient!
  • dibnlib/Clare - You are quite right - I missed out Staffa! Mendelssohn would be spinning in his grave! If you don't have time for the trip I could tell you about a lovely hillside on Mull where you can see right into the cave - well, I tell myself I can, but anyway you can see Staffa clearly.
  • Morning all:    I think PatO deserves an award for all that helpful info on Mull.  Meanwhile, hope Clare finds cod on somebody's menu.  

    Diane:  I watched the SpaceX rocket fire up online and by the time I got outside with my binocs it was clearly visible to the east, at which point most rockets head south over our part of the state.  You could clearly see the rocket, which was followed by long very bright red tail. After a minute all that remained was a red dot with fat  'waves' ahead of it, a bit like the wake caused by the prow of a ship but ballooning out more.  A very inarticulate description, but hey, I haven't had breakfast yet.    If you really want a pickup, I'd hold out for one but a moderate-sized SUV has the advantage of being able to carry stuff but also keep things dry through the wet months.  I'm assuming you'll look for a used - sorry! "pre-owned' as they like call them now - vehicle. :-)  We've kept every Consumer Report Special Auto Issue since the year dot. They have a section on Best Used Cars that lists cars that have proved reliable over the years and that's where we start.  Still, I may be assuming too much.  The spiffy new Ford pickups apparently can double as generators in the event of power outages!!  When they build one that can do the grocery shopping too I'll have to look into it.  :-))  Good luck with that deadline.

    AQ:  We have humpbacks here, but I've never seen anything like that. Drones have their purpose.  We're all wondering how the gray whale migration will go this year. The southbound part starts in November when they head to Mexico.  Folks tracking them will be able to get a good idea of how they're doing by apparent body weight.  It hasn't been good these last few years.

    Meanwhile, hope CC has a trouble-free trip north and the same for Clare and Limpy - and that PatO enjoys her B&B en route home.  

  • Unknown said:
    I think PatO deserves an award for all that helpful info on Mull.  Meanwhile, hope Clare finds cod on somebody's menu.  

    So do I.  She clearly loves Mull to bits!

    Fingers crossed that someone will have cod for Limpy.

  • I bet they'll have cod at the Glengorm Castle tea rooms! www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g551869-d3227054-Reviews-Glengorm_Coffee_Shop-Tobermory_Isle_of_Mull_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html

    Otherwise there is a very good restaurant specialising in fish and other seafood, all local, in Fionnphort right by the Iona Ferry. I haven't eaten there myself, but have heard it's excellent. The reviews certainly say so! www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g551865-d8494544-Reviews-The_Creel_Seafood_Bar-Fionnphort_Isle_of_Mull_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html
  • Pat O said:
    You can take the road from Aros up to Dervaig (almost always see dippers in the river on your right just out of Aros!)

    Is it just past where the road to Tobermory goes over the bridge?  We'll be going through there the day we arrive on Mull.

  • Hello all, and just catching up with all your news, especially PatO's. So pleased to hear that the swelling has gone down and that you are now able to make your way home. What an experience but at least you were looked after up in Scotland. Know of Bredbury so hope B&B is ok.

    Lindybird - loved the pic of Amber and of Bonnie relaxing.

    Clare - hope your trip to Mull goes well and that you can get around the island and see the magnificent scenery. Only visited it once when we were living in Scotland. but its beautiful and wild.

    Annette and Diane - were following the 9/11 memorials when they appeared on our news bulletins.

    Have returned now from our few days away in South Wales. Hotel was typical for catering for coach parties, food reasonable, room was lovely and spacious looking out to the bay. Lots of walking for us which didn't help but somehow we coped but were exhausted at the end of each trip. Not sure we'll do that sort of holiday again but it has to be something involving coach travel now if we want to get away as OH finds he doesn't want to drive far these days. Still very lethargic, dozing on and off all day, seeing the diabetic nurse next week so hopefully she will get to the bottom of what is causing this problem..

    Will look in again
  • Clare - That sounds like the right road. Look for the dippers on the right. Enjoy your time on Mull - how long will you be there? I'm sooooo envious!
  • Going to bed happy in California tonight. :-)