Away has spent the winter at Kerrera Marina in Scotland. Kerrera is small island a 10 minute ferry ride from Oban, one of the larger towns on the west coast of Scotland.
As the days grow shorter and colder the population disappear indoors. We enjoy settling in as local’s on the island, joining yoga class, shopping in the farm shop and maintaining fitness in the rain and gales. And keeping the dog entertained with rabbits, deer, cows and sheep.
At New Years we join a traditional dance called a Ceilidh. No dancing experience or skill required, just people of all ages and backgrounds keen to have some fun. We danced until midnight and watched the fireworks from Away.
We got used to seeing the grey areas of intense winds on the forecast chart as the winter storms passed by. We’ve only sustained a couple of scratches, and one broken fender and a few ripped fender covers during the multitude of named storms this winter season.
Later in January, the Scottish poet Robert Burns is celebrated with an evening of poetry, haggis and a wee dram or two.
Soon Fi was off to Australia and our friend Nick came up for a few days. We drove up to Glencoe in some appropriate highland weather.
The marina managers also run a farm on the island and there were no shortage of volunteers to help out when one of the calves needed hand feeding four times a day.
A friend at the marina invited us out for his first sail on his boat. We started in light winds and sunshine, which can only mean one thing in Scotland…
…its about to start snowing and blowing a hooley
Next time we prepare to leave Oban and discuss our plans for this year…
