Monday 05/06/06

Although it's only 8pm, I thought I'd take the opportunity to write today's diary.

At 4 am this morning there was thick fog. So thick in fact, that it was not possible to see much beyond the seawall on the other side of the street. By 5.30 a.m., the causeway was just distinguishable through the fog. At 7.30, Goat Island and the Coastguard Station were clear, and the Arnish Lighthouse was just about visible. The ferry left, blowing her foghorn every minute. Heard later that the Uist to Harris ferry had to go to anchor half way through its crossing, because the fog made it impossible to navigate. The Sound of Harris is too treacherous to sail by radar alone. By late morning, the fog had lifted and the low cloud quickly burned away. The wreck of the fishing boat "Brothers" that I mentioned over the weekend will be surveyed by police divers today. She lies 40 miles to the south of here, just off the northern tip of Skye. A big cruiseliner, Astor, lies anchored off Sandwick. Her passengers are ferried ashore with tenders, and buses are on standby to take them round Lewis. Two French fishing boats leave port, having effected a crew change. Tropical depression 2E has now moved east along the Mexican west coast and is at the point of dissipating. As I go into town at 2.20, the last of the low cloud vanishes and it turns into a gloriously sunny if cool afternoon in the breeze. Have tea outside with mrs B, but it's a wee bit chilly. The starlings are making a racket. Yesterday, they all had a panick attack, just because a cat walked past. It looked in with a look on its face as if to say "I'm only walking past, what's the fuss?" The Astor departs at 7.15. Tomorrow, the Hebridean Princess will take her place. The HP is a lot smaller, and she'll dock at no 1 pier. More info on quite a few cruiseliners can be found at www.cruisecal.com, which includes itineraries and webcam links.

If I have anything else to report, I shall do so in a separate entry.