Columba's Bay

The weather prediction was cloudy in the morning with rain returning in the afternoon, so we started at 10:00 a hike down to Columba's Bay, the traditional site where St. Columba arrived on Iona in 563.  We walked through the golf course, and you can see the sheep and cattle grazing the grass to keep it short.  Then we followed a wide path that is alternatively muddy or rocky, sometimes both. 

Here is David posing at the top of the hill before we descend down the trail to the Bay visible in the distance.  This picture will be sent to the church to provide evidence he has not actually gone somewhere warm and sunny.  After spending some time on the top of the rock overlooking the Bay, with the wind picking up and a scatter of rain, we returned the way we came.  Arriving back at the golf course, the cattle and sheep were moved away from the edge of the water, their back ends into the wind.

It was not a hard decision to stay in the house the rest of the afternoon after our 3.5 mile hike.  Ralph, a friend who is staying with us for a week, tried out his skill at starting a coal fire.  That is now burning nicely, keep the lounge toasty while the wind blows outside.