Muck to Eigg

Had a second day roaming Muck: with vivid views & time for relaxed chat. The bright skies & superb visibility are from a stable weather pattern, also bringing fresh North winds. On Thursday we loaded up the kayak & paddled to the East end of Muck, hoping to cross to Eigg. The wind had risen since we'd first looked, so we landed & climbed to a sheltered spot, waiting for it to lessen. Studying the crossing with binoculars convinced us it was still too rough for us & we returned to camp on a headland with fantstic views. The wind veered in the night & we eventually moved the basha to a more sheltered spot to avoid the noise of incessant flapping!

The Small Isles are served by Calmac ferries that take Kayaks for free - perfect for this situation. We were ferried to Eigg where we've spent a couple of days exploring, staying at Jackie & Mick's B&B. The island's celebrating the 10th anniversity of its community buy-out this year. It's also has virtually 100% renewable electricity from hydro, wind & solar, although last year when we visited the diesel generator was back on because of a severe drought. Lots of dramatic landscape to see, much of it volcanic, as with these lava bombs.

Tomorrow the forecast is for less wind & we hope to paddle to the mainland.