Japan and a Windy trip around the British Isles.

[drron]

The Lighthouse.There is the former Keeper's cottage here which you can rent.Everything I guess needs to be brought in on a small boat or carried in.
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[drron]

Flowers clinging to rocks.
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[drron]

A salmon farm.
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[drron]

Met up with a young Aussie who was a great AFL fan-Australian football.Lovely fellow who was with his grandmother for the cruise.JustinF would have liked him.The Tigers beanie rarely came off.
I got back to the town and decided I didn't want to rush for the 1430 tender which was at the other end of town so I slowly walked back to the tender wharf to find they had changed the tender times and i arrived just as the 1445 tender was loading.

Views from the tender.
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[drron]

Steaming away from Tobermory.
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Once again second in trivia but I bombed out in the putting.

Dinner in the MDR with a couple from Washington State and a Swiss gentleman.A great night.
I decided to try the Indian curries as the sous chef is Indian.Had a Goan fish curry as an appetiser and a spicy lamb Rogan Josh.Both were very good and for a change really spicy.I loved it.

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Mrsdrron had the foie gras and chicken liver pate and you can guess what for mains.
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For dessert she had the mango whilst I went for the chocolate.
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Off to bed as usual to get ready for Stornoway,Isle of Lewis in the morning.

 

[drron]

Evening on the way to Stornoway.
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Morning of day 8.
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Day 8.Stornoway,Isle of Lewis.
Breakfast in our suite.Blueberry pancakes so no bacon needed.I then headed out to do the Lews castle walk.An interesting walk around the harbour and hearing of the herring fishery.
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[drron]

Also the sad story of the North Hebrides men returning from WW1 whose ship,Iolaire, sank close to shore in early November 1918.201 of the 280 on board died as the seas were treacherous with a severe gale.Worse many on the Island were upset that some survived whilst their sons died so many of the survivors ended up emigrating..
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When extensions to the port buildings were planned the excavations found evidence of a much earlier building.
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[drron]

First views of the castle.
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Then a walk through the fishing port.
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The herring fishery historically was the important fishery.Women had the job of gutting and cleaning the herring and stacking them in casks of brine.
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[drron]

Some boats were a little worse for wear.
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Those were the fishing boats of the past.Though not this next one.
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The waterfront buildings.
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[drron]

We continue our walk to the castle.
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Those of you with sharp eyes may notice someone I have talked about.
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[drron]

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[drron]

Nice views to town.
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The gardener's cottage.
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And his private way to town.
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[drron]

Now good views of the castle and some of the repairs being done.
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But a part of it was a sea plane base during WW2.
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[craven morehead]

View attachment 168099.View attachment 168100.

View attachment 168101.View attachment 168102.

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The old Shorts aircraft factory.
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And nearby.
View attachment 168107.

Responsible for the Dash-8s

 

[drron]

Then a walk around the castle gardens.Looked a little bare in places as they have ripped out many of the rhododendrons as they are not native and choked off other growth.The castle is still having extensive renovations.The Stornoway Trust didn't have the money for the needed repairs so today the castle is a Natural Retreats property with upmarket apartment rentals.

The castle looks good from the outside but little internally is from the 1800s.It was built in 1844-51 by William Matheson who made his fortune by supplying China with opium.His company-Jardine Matheson still exists.
His wife built this memorial to him.
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Visitors also add to the poor state of the gardens.
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[drron]

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The rooms basically sterile.
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[drron]

In one room they have attempted to restore the walls to how they may have looked in the 1800s.
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I was going to have tea and scones in what I presumed would be a Scottish cafe.It was in fact a Starbucks so I walked back to town instead.In truth there is no need to do the ship's excursion as the castle is close to town and admission to the castle and grounds is free.
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[drron]

More of the outside of the castle.
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[drron]

I walked back through the woods.Caught a glimpse of the original entrance way to the castle.
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As you go over the bridge you pass a students dorm.The cafeteria serves up some different things.Black pudding burger anyone?
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And this is the oldest shop in Stornoway.A sign outside saying no dogs allowed so naturally a couple of dogs inside.It really was full of junk and you could hardly move.
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[drron]

Now some of mrsdrron's pics on her walk around town.
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She got some good views of the castle.
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