Oban

 June 13

Oban is the jumping off point for going to the Islands of Mull, Iona, part of the Hebrides.  The ferry schedule isn't working for us to do some of the boat tours that we were hoping for.  Melodie does some more looking and finds one leaving from Oban that looks good.  We make reservations for the 3:00 two hour tour.  Oban Sea Tours is a new company that started up as COVID was coming down on us.  

 I make scrambled eggs with various vegetables for breakfast. We enjoy a morning of playing with our screens, catching up on laundry and just hanging out together in a comfy place.  We finish up our leftovers from last night before heading off to walk to the pier where our boat tour departs.  We layer up as it is quite chilly and will be even colder on the boat.  Outer layer is the wind breaker.  It's a short walk of only a few blocks.  We get there just as the previous tour is coming in.  Our guide, Cameron, is delightfully entertaining.  He so enjoys his job and sharing about the birds and history of the area.  We're an appreciative audience for his puns and mostly true stories.  A few brave souls go to the top of the boat where there is an area with railings.  Of course, Melodie, Marilyn and I are among those brave souls.  The wind is fierce but it's worth it.  When we get out in the open water, it is like a carnival ride with the occasional cold ocean spray.  But we can see the birds and sights so much better than down below.  We see Northern Gannets which are very large, Kittiwakes, cormorants, black guillemot and even a few puffins.  

Another high point was the community of seals.  There were several young pups, one of which was nursing!  

There were a couple of stories of men being upset with their wives and leaving them on small outcroppings to get swallowed up by the sea.  But, instead were saved by passing fisherman and the ensuing karma hit the men hard.  

At the end of the tour, we asked Cam for a recommendation of a place to get some drink to warm us up from the inside.  He gave us directions to his favorite pub which also had some good fish and chips as well as local distilled whiskey.  It was definitely a local place as there was a group of men speaking Gaelic.  

Another wonderful day!