Thursday 02/06/05

The day dawns dreich and it gradually starts to rain by 10 a.m.. In the afternoon, it's absolutely tipping down, so once again no outdoor activity. I'm in town three times, first to get papers and a haircut. Second time round I use the internet in the library and borrow two books. One book is a droolingly sweet and inaccurate account of a journey through the Hebrides. I'm left to ponder how on earth they can manage to stretch the 10 mile hike from Tolsta to Ness to 13 miles and where was the Doune Tower Hotel. It's supposed to be 6 miles north of Tolsta, but there is no indication of any permanent building anywhere along the route. Walked it twice myself. Four totally soaked cyclists book in, who cycled from Gearrannan to Butt of Lewis to Stornoway, all of 55 miles. Very unpleasant conditions. I head off to a meeting about sea turtles at 7.30, but the meeting suddenly turns out to be commencing at 8.30 pm. A separate journal entry is dedicated to this meeting. Afterwards, I chat to our brave cyclists who hail from Banchory on Deeside. They are on a sponsored trip to raise funds for a project in Nigeria. They are cycling from Barra to Butt, south to north in order to have the prevailing (SW) winds in their backs. The weather being what it has been for the last few months, they have had headwinds all the way. Oh a huge yacht lies anchored between Arnish and Goat Island. It even has its own private helicopter!