Perfect morning over Mull. Up quite early as have to be off by 9 in order to catch the tide at Lismore, before it starts going the wrong way. I took the rubbish to the bins and saw the Tobermory cat on the way. Didn’t have my phone with me so don’t have a picture, but he is quite famous…. you can google “ the Tobermory cat” he is a very lovely friendly ginger cat. Sadly he looked as if he’s getting on a bit now… a bit stiff and hobbly. We set off down the sound of Mull having effectively done a circumnavigation of Skye! The weather was lovely and no sign yet of Storm Ellen! Just before passing Lismore lighthouse you go past Duart castle on Mull. Unfortunately it’s covered in scaffolding atm so not so photogenic! Normally it looks an amazing and imposing place. Passing south of Lismore lighthouse and north of Lady rock ( which was at least visible today!), we could see 3 ferries!! All in our vicinity. I am less prone to ferry panic nowadays than I used to be, but I still don’t like them much. Even if you’re not in their way, you have to hope they don’t change course. You can see by the photo…..they’re quite big! We had radioed earlier to make sure there would be a berth available for us in the new pontoon facility at Oban, which there was and we were excited going somewhere new, and that if stuck for a few nights, at least we would be attached to a town. Previously in Oban, one has had to either go onto a buoy or go to the marina on Kererra island and then get a ferry to the town. We arrived 2 ish and berthed no worries. Plenty of others boats were coming in for the same reason. They had tried to social distance the boats by not allowing some pontoons to be used. The up side of that being less boats and more room to manoeuvre!! Other sailing people are nearly always helpful when it comes to taking ropes and so on, it’s one of the unwritten rules that if you see a boat coming in, you go and help. A lot of people like us sail pretty shorthanded or even on their own. Once sorted, I went to see if I could book a meal at a nice seafood restaurant on the quay but sadly no availability so we have booked for tomorrow! Spent the rest of the evening enjoying the sunshine and waiting for Ellen to arrive( which she did…. but that’s tomorrow!)
What I learned today…………….. if you kneel on the deck and inadvertently stick your knee into the autopilot buttons, whilst trying to winch in the head sail…… it messes up all the display 🤭
In sound of Mull 
Glittery sea ( for Christine) 
Looking north to Ben Nevis up Loch Linnhe 
Lismore lighthouse 
Not us but nice boat 
Ferry !!!! 
Oban 
Socially distanced berthing 
Cockpit tent up and ready for weather!
Angelique 