Thursday 7 August 2008

Thursday 7 August

After breakfast, we headed off by bus to Harris. £8.40 for a return to Rodel, which is a journey of 55 miles one way. The bus was pretty full with holiday makers, who were heading for the Isle of Skye; the service connects with the 11.50 ferry to Uig from Tarbert.

The weather was a bit iffy on crossing the Clisham, but you are in the mountains there, so no surprise. At Tarbert, the bus turned into a tourbus and as we hared south, the driver pulled over at regular intervals for a photography break. This was to view Luskentyre, Horgabost, McLeod's Stone and Scarista beach. At Rodel we had the grand total of 12 minutes to race round St Clement's Church. I also located 5 wargraves, which I duly added to my collection. At 1pm sharp, we made for Leverburgh, 4 miles to the west, where we disgorged the 21 tourists; us two changed buses to return to Tarbert along the eastern side of the island. The main route passes along the western shores. Had the southbound service kept up a brisk 50 mph pace, the northbound service turned into a dizzying 45 mph race around sharp hills, sharp bends, up and down, left and right - without much of a break. We left the wee bus in Tarbert with a distinct feeling of vertigo. It was a stunningly beautiful journey though.

On returning to Stornoway at 3.30pm, we went for a cuppa. Dinner was fish & chips.

9 comments:

  1. Hectic day but it sounds as if you enjoyed it



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  2. SOunds wild & crazy but fun!  Fish & chips sounds wonderful..it's going to be fried oysters here for dinner later this evening, along with lots of fresh broccoli.  Linda in WA

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  3. great day, lol, you could be in Italy, all that speeding along the wee bendy roads.
    Must be a good change for your Dad. oxo

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  4. Sounds like a lovely trip. Have a wonderful week. Janie

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  5. cool! :) hugs
    natalie

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  6. Sounded like a wonderful day...and dinner...well, fish and chips are my favorite!!!  Hope you enjoy your weekend...take care!
    Joyce

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  7. We have had two terrible wrecks in the U.S. this past week of a bus carrying many passengers and an SUV carrying 19 people deemed illegals with seats for only 5, so when you said you had a dizzying ride up and down the hills I felt some alarm.  I hope they do a good job of checking tires.  An illegal retread caused the wreck of the bus and cost many lives. I just relax on city buses and don't worry, but on some roads I would.  I remember a city bus driver though who would practically lay the bus over on its side he went so fast through the winding roads at the airport! Gerry  

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  8. Well I got dizzy just reading this post!  You had a really full day it sounds!
    Lori

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  9. WOW........ That certainly sounded like a whirlwind tour........ i would be dizzy to racing around like that.
    Jeeees the bus fare sounds expensive.....but guess it is quite a long way.

    Sounds like you are having a great time
    hugs Jayne

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