Reaching Tighshee

Tuesday morning we decided to take our chances.  There were still high winds, but conditions were better.  It was good to get onto the large ferry, and I took this picture which shows it was still raining but there were very few whitecaps.  The ride over to Craignure was smooth and uneventful, taking less time than expected.  There was a two hour wait for the next public bus across Mull.  Fortunately there was a waiting area for the ferry.  I have never been so happy for a fiberglass seat inside where it is warm.  Finally the 96 bus to Fionphort drove up just before the ferry returned for the second time.  I dozed much of that ride, finally able to relax.

I was watching every body of water, whether in inland lock or a bay of the Atlantic, for clues about how rough the water might be when we reached Fionphort.  But it wasn't until we turned the corner, and could see the ferry in the dock that I knew there would be no problem.  A large crowd of day trippers were coming off the ferry, so it had been running all day. I finally let go of my anxiety and worry about getting to Iona  once we were out in the water.

Tighshee is the name of the cottage where we are staying, pronounced "tie-she."  We rolled our suitcases down the road in the typical Scottish mist-rain to finally arrive at our home for the next four weeks. It is a 10-15 minute walk from the pier.  I knew it was the right place when David discovered a silly tea cozy, which will be a regular part of our lives.  Here is the cozy with sheep while outside the window you can see sheep grazing in the pasture.   We have arrived on Iona.