Modesty is one thing, but to deny that our 21st anniversary expedition voyage was anything but amazing would be untrue! It was made up of a combination of 38 really smashing passengers, a superb Russian captain and crew, a Swedish expedition leader from New Jersey, a chef from New Zealand, a 2nd chef from Wales, a doctor from Dusseldorf and a hotel director from Ushuaia in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego and, of course, Andy & Pete - my two Island Holidays leaders who make a great double act. Add to that fantastic weather and some of the most beautiful islands on earth and you have the recipe for a pretty good week.
Our voyage started in the west coast port of Oban on a glorious warm and sunny afternoon on a flat calm sea. As we sailed out of harbour set on a course for Canna, the party assembled on the top deck and toasted the voyage and the memory of Island Holidays' other founding partner, Bobby Tulloch, to whom the whole week was a tribute. It was done in champagne, of course. Several of the passengers knew each other from previous trips and those who didn't know anyone else at the beginning soon did.
Our first landing was the next day on Canna - what an island it is. We wandered around, some birding and botanising whilst others explored the old village and still others simply sat and drew or painted or took photographs. The place had a wonderful aura of peace and tranquility on this glorious early summer morning. All too soon it was time to return to the Professor Multinovskiy for lunch and a 4-hour sail to our next destination, the magically-named Mingulay. The wind had got up and there was a heavy swell, making a landing impossible. Instead we sailed round by the seabird cliffs before heading off to nearby Pabbay where we did manage to get ashore to stretch our legs.
There followed a pretty rough night - gale force 8 - which had rather a lot of poorly people. However Dr Heinrich had a good supply of patches and soon everyone was on good form again as we headed out to St Kilda. Everyone who knows anything about St Kilda knows that landing is more unlikely but likely, but we were in luck. It's a fascinating place and everything about it is even more than I had expected. As for the gannet cliffs - WOW!
I really must stop now. I'll try to get back to this tomorrow to tell you about our very special day in Yell. Meanwhile it's catch-up time at the desk on this glorious June morning.
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