UK 6 The Outer Hebrides
Saturday, 22 September 2018 4:45 pm
One hour and 40 minutes and we arrive in the Outer Hebrides.
The sky is blue, be it in patches.
The view from the outside door
Camp E22: A Peaceful Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 80 metres
Today : 100 Kms.
UK Total : 3,622 Kms
Saturday 22nd September 2018:
Part of an complete set of Chess men and board from an 800 year old Chess Set found buried on an Outer Hebrides beach. The rest are in other museums.
It is thought it was a stash after the plundering of a Viking ship and buried for safe keeping.
Apparently made by 5 different tradesmen in Norway from Walrus and Whale teeth
Remnants from the past:
Whale bones and the very harpoon that did the kill now form an arch outside a house.
On the western side on the Lewis and Harris island this 2,300 year old Broch.
Double walled to protest from the elements and also any invaders.
Very cleaver engineering, a stair case that lead up to the 2nd and 3rd house floors was part of the double wall.
One of the most complete stone circles in the UK.
13 large stones form a cross around a central larger stone, then 40 smaller stones radiate outwards.
Way out there is Iceland !
Camp E23: Bosta Beach Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 3 metres
Today : 120 Kms.
UK Total : 3,742 Kms
With all this rain it was also time to do some waterproofing.
Sunday 23rd September 2018:
This is the land of lakes.
No trees, just soggy ground, moss and Peat Bog.
Interesting Note:
The Peat Bogs only started to form around the early 1700’s when all the trees were cut down for building and fuel. Nothing left to soak up the water.
Another Stone Circle.
Another interesting note:
These circles were dug up in the 1850’s then left. One hundred years later when they were re-excavated there was 1.5 metres of peat built up !
Seals on the west coast of the Lewis and Harris Island.
Heard of Harris Tweed?
This is where it comes from..
The Outer Hebrides weather report:
20 minutes wind
20 minutes rain
20 minutes sunshine
now repeat !
Jumped on to another ferry from the Lewis and Harris Island to the North Uist Island.
One hour ferry ride over open ocean.
Cost GBP 23 = A$50 incredible value,
Particularly when one considers crossing the Jardine River in Cape York and in Indigenous country that for a distance you can throw a stone across it is A$120 !
Something wrong !
Camp E24: THE BEST Camp so far.
Western Beach Berneray Island
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 10 metres
Today : 140 Kms.
UK Total : 3,882 Kms
Monday 24th September 2018:
Last night was a good night also.
Had our normal drop then I had purchased this to make Irish coffee, but one thing lead to a small sample and then soon half the bottle was gone !
I am not yet converted to Scotch Whisky but I will work on it !
This Scolpaig Tower is a Georgian folly.
It was built in 1830 to provide employment for famine relief.
A view over the lakes of North Uist
Seafood is big business.
Salmon farming, Lobsters, Langoustine ( A big Prawn) and here discarded Scollop shells from a processing facility.
Camp E25: Lochboisdale Harbour Camp in readiness for a 7am ferry departure back to the mainland.
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 5 metres
Today : 203 Kms.
UK Total : 4,085 Kms
Tuesday 25th September 2018:
That planned departure was cancelled due to high winds and seas, so a mad dash to the north end of Uist, only to fine that the 7.15am ferry is delayed.
More news at 11.30 am.
More news at 1.00 pm.
More news at 3.00 pm
We depart at 4.30 pm
An exciting ride back to the mainland !
