Mull Autumn 2013: Day 5 - Quick look at Iona

The weather is great again!

We need to check that the bikes have survived the travel on the roof rack so S&A1 have a quick ride along the road to Fiddens Farm (the campsite). It is good to get to Fiddens as we were meant to get here on a holiday a couple of years ago. Another nice beach discovered, make note to come back later.

Bikes are good so all 4 of us wait to catch a ferry to Iona. There are a couple of bill boards advertising boat trips that sound appealing and also they have been recommended by pervious house occupants. We take pictures for later (What did we do before mobile phones had cameras?).

The crossing is smooth and the weather is good enough to stand on top and admire the view.

A1 snap of house from ferry

A1 pic of one lot off

A1 pic of next lot on

On arrival on Iona, S&A1 cycle to the golf course (up the road to the left). E&A2 go off to check out the local amenities and the Abbey. By all accounts the Abbey well worth a visit. I was looking for somewhere to pay for the golf and also for a score card as I was hoping to play one morning. The golf course is at the top of the hill leading to the north western side of the island. I did not see anyone playing or find anywhere to pay. The golf course is in perfect surroundings, hills and sea in equal measure.

A1 pic of cycle on golf course

Having checked out the golf course we cycle back down the hill and past the Abbey towards the Northern tip of the island. As we pass some Abbey visitors we hear one of them say there are Dolphins in the sea between Iona and Mull. We stand for several minutes as the school of dolphins makes its way South. Pretty amazing!

A1 pic of pink rock seen from Iona
Zoom in for dolphin

A1 pic of our house

The Northern end of the island has beaches but you have to leave the bikes and walk so we decide thats a trip for another day. We all meet up at the cafe by the ferry for soup and a beer. A very satisfying trip. I ask a local shop keeper how I pay for golf. The answer is pay and collect a score card from the Post Office...

A1 pic of North side

A1 artistic pic of ferry through bush

A1 pic moody looking Iona high street

While A1&S were cycling, A2 was exploring the path to the Abbey along the coast complete with cows. I believe he had to persuade them to move as they were blocking the path. That would not worry A2! On his (free) trip around the outside of the Abbey and a peep in, A2 met Brother Michael who was from Portugal and this was his first day on Iona too (He is based in London and was on a pilgrimage). He was very pleasant and let A2 take a picture.

A2 gets a snap of a boat (see later we have a trip on this)

A2 with cows and a Ferry in the background

The good Brother Michael
I don't know if he got a snap of A2?

So back to Mull in time to see the local fishermen and test out the water on "our beach", sit and dry out on the veranda and make our nightly trip to "our local" for food and drink and good company.