Tuesday 03/01/06

Brilliantly sunny morning, this time no sore head or anything. Temperature dropped from 10 degrees yesterday to 3 degrees C today. For the first time in several days, Isles FM have a local news bulletin, but I already knew about the main things. Tropical Storm Zeta is still about in the Atlantic, but not going anywhere fast. She was 1460 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, and heading in that direction at 7 mph. She has sustained windspeeds of 65 mph, 9 mph below hurricane threshold. Just after 12 noon, I join mrs B's son and his girlfriend on a drive up to Ness. We visit the Cross war memorial, from where the roar of the Atlantic is clearly audible. We call into Port of Ness, from where I explore the harbour at low tide. After a visit to the local portaloo, we carry on to the Butt of Lewis lighthouse. Spectacular waves crash onto the rocks. Back down the road, at Eoropie Beach, the pounding of the waves is harshly interspersed with the buzzing of trailbikes, which churn up the beach, the dunes and the machair. On the way back to town, we watch the sun set behind Beinn Bragar at 3.50. It is bright yellow, up to the point of setting. In the evening, we go to a supper in the Crown Hotel. The less said about that, the better. Food was fine though.