Tuesday, 10 January 2006

Monday 09/01/06

Disturbed night with the wind pommelling the house. Rise a bit on the late side at 10 a.m., which is actually the time the rain started. According to the Met Office, it's blowing a gale, 35 knots, gusting up to 55 knots, which is force 11. At 10.20, reports quote a sustained windspeeds of 41 kts, force 9. Two or three boats pull into port to seek shelter. The ferry did not leave Stornoway at 7.15, but a decrease in windspeed is forecast for later today. Other ferries in the Outer Isles are also cancelled. The Skye to Harris ferry is still on. Waves break over the causeway, and it looks very wild beyond the lighthouse. At midday, windspeeds remain at severe gale force 9, with gusts of 53 knots. A climber in the Cairngorms [a mountain range 30 miles south of Inverness] was left dangling by a climbing rope for 7 hours after a fall. He was unhurt, but had to be rescued together with his companions, who were holding on to the rope. Just before 1pm, a squall sends a lot of spray over the basin. The wind appears to be increasing, with gusts now approaching 60 kts, 70 mph, by 2 o'clock. Venture outside to take some pics at the Coastguard Station. Waves break over the causeway, much like November 11th. Go round to the other side of the building, where I can see the waves crashing into the dam and running parallel to the shore. Even the webcam captures the waves in the basin and the spume flying over. Visibility deteriorates after my return at 2.30. Mrs B receives a DVD from a young German couple who were very grateful for her hospitality during their stay in August. They had fled their campsite at Tolsta following an overnight gale. Workmen are repairing the pavement along the street. Extensive disruption to ferry services, now including the Uig - Harris service. We're expecting a guest from Skye. A decision will be made by Calmac when service will resume; the vessel is stormbound at Lochmaddy. Mrs B goes to town at 3.40 on the bus, with lashing rain and a howling gale. Just after 4, the wind suddenly drops away. The crests disappear from the waves in the basin, and the rain stops as well. How strange. Radar and satellite images had shown the back-end of the front to be approaching from the west. I had anticipated its arrival at 4 pm - which happened on the dot. Waves are still crashing against the causeway. The Minch will take some time to calm down. A shower drifts across at 4.15, as darkness falls. The ferry casts off, nearly 3hours late, at 4.40. Forecast for this week: three more gales, tomorrow evening; Thursday; Saturday. Sounds like a repeat of the second week of November 2005. Supper consists of a microwave meal, after which mrs B and I watch the DVD I mentioned earlier. They thanked her and myself by name. I supplied them with ideas for further trips in the islands. They left for Skye after looking round South Harris. Simon Fraser leaves a nice message about Molinginish on the VisitHebrides website. He explained the history of the village, which was deserted in 1964. There was a school there until 1935, and up to 40 people lived there in the 1880s. Our Skye guests materializes at 8.40, nearly 4 hours late.

1 comment:

  1. How exciting to live through such conditions. I hope your managing to stay warm and dry. Take lots of pictures.    Rhonda

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