The short crossing from our overnight berth in Inverie to the Isle of Eigg was simply amazing. A full moon was clearly visible in the pale morning light hovering above the rugged outline of the Isle of Rum. The sun was rising and bathing the Small Isles (Eigg, Rum, Muck and Cana) in its dawn glory and reflecting perfectly off the calm waters as we ploughed forward. To make the scene even more perfect a minke whale popped up beside the ship as we approached the entrance to the sheltered bay on the Isle of Eigg where we would come alongside.
This little island with a population of less than 100 souls is beautiful in any conditions but today, with the bright sun, blue skies and lack of wind, it was idyllic. The recent history of Eigg, as explained yesterday by Steve, is gut-wrenching and upsetting but now we could see for ourselves the amazing changes and improvements the determined islanders have made to the island that is now legally and rightfully theirs. It was a brief visit but a memorable, a stunning place.
Before lunch Steve gave a concise history of tomorrow’s main port-of-call, Iona, and why it is so important. As he finished lunch was called and as lunch was finished we were pulling into this afternoon’s port-of-call, Tobermory, on the large Isle of Mull. Tours of the local whisky distillery had been arranged but we all had time to enjoy a guided walk of the astonishingly colorful village before arriving at the distillery. Then we were left to stroll the busy but welcoming main street, explore the many gift shops and functional stores used by the locals for their daily needs, and bask in the sunshine of another fine Hebridean afternoon.
But the day’s program was not yet complete. Following dinner we trooped up the stairs to the lounge to be welcomed by Richard and Sue from the raptor rescue center known as Wings Over Mull. Richard and Sue had brought with them some of their feathered and beaked friends—a snowy owl, a barn owl and a Harris hawk—which they used to explain each bird’s behavior and customs and the whole background to their nationally recognized rescue center. A truly dedicated couple who do a wonderful job.
Tomorrow we will be repositioning the ship to the other end of the Isle of Mull for our day’s events, but for the remainder of the evening we enjoyed the full moon again, this time hanging low in the darkened Scottish sky.
