Plan B not needed.

This year's gallant party counted nine and we traveled up in three cars on the morning of Saturday 27th. All made good time until reaching the A9 just short of Ballinluig where a minibus had made contact with two cars and partially blocked the road. Kenny et al lost about an hour here, Paul et al, traveling just behind Kenny, were forewarned and managed to divert, while Scott and Cian ploughed in regardless and lost over two and a half hours. Paul paid a heavier price a little later on when his car started to overheat and he had to be 'recovered' on the back of a tow-truck to Tongue, during heavy rain storms to be, hopefully, repaired at a local garage while we were on the island.

Allan, Bob, Kenny, Alex, Colin, Paul, Cian, Scott, Gerry - the 'Class of 2014'

Sunday morning dawned a little damp. It was too hot to wear waterproofs but rained a little to hard not too. On reaching Skerray Jean, with son Andy, were all fired up ready to go and two crossings were made on millpond conditions.
As we knew beforehand the steps to the island had been washed away due to winter storms and so we were prepared for a beach landing. However, things on the jetty were not as bad as first thought as a convenient rock lent itself to some fairly easy free-climbing in order to get on top of those steps that did remain After that it was just strategic positioning of bodies and a hand-over-hand daisy chain to transfer the luggage up onto the island. We had arrived for 2014.

The typical camp-site view

Plan B

Jean made her first visit to the island the other week to find that part of the island was missing following the winter storms! Although not absolutely essential the bit missing did make access to the island simpler.
The quay has gone from this:

To this:

The lower hand rail is now visible in the cleft of rock to the left and the flight of steps washed away. So, revert to plan B. Unfortunately there are few access points to the island but one, just happens, to be around the corner.

Jean has already implied that she can off-load us here but it is a bit more weather dependent and we should make plans for at least a little paddle (if required). So, this year's ringing will be undertaken using plan B. For those going please plan accordingly.

Season 2014

Plans are already underway for this year's ringing visit. Dates have been set, Jean (of the boat) has been notified, and all possible participants have been contacted. In the case of the really keen ones B&Bs have been booked also.
This year is set to be something special. The Birmingham Bunch celebrate 25 years of visiting the island this year - the Liverpool Lads and Lasses are some way behind (and the Shropshire Simpletons, newbies, even further adrift). To mark the event we are planning an overlap on visits so that, for one night only, both the BB's and the LL&L (&SS) will all be on the island for the night. Disco dancing or stormie catching competitions - who knows. Cant wait......

Lone(ly) recovery

2624465
Ringed Treshnish Isles, Argyll and Bute 27.06.2013 Adult
Controlled ENR 29.07.2013 (119mm wing 23.9gms)
32 days 262km 29deg NNE

Apparently Ros wants to be known as Ros and not Ross!

Surely it should be Rosalind? (Hope I got all the corrections ;-)

Portugese recovery (and others)

N05238 (age 6)
15.06.2012  Ponta de Almadena, Faro, Portugal
Wing 127mm Weight 29.5g
31.07.2013 ENR
Wing 126mm Weight 27.9g
411days 2409km 8deg

2454067 (age 4)
24.07.2012 Auckengill, Highland Region
29.07.2013 ENR
370days 72km 270deg

2681325
25.07.2012 ENR
11.08.2013 Fair Isle, Shetland
382days 190km 55deg

2681774
25.07.2012 ENR
13.09.2013 Duncansby Head, Highland Region
415days 75km 83deg

Ringed ENR 2013, recaptured elsewhere 2013

2681966 ENR 28.07.13 Duncansby Head, Higland 13.09.13
47days 75km 83deg
2682004 ENR 29.07.13 Strathy Point, Highland 05.08.2013
7days 18km 78deg
268222 ENR 31.07.13 Auckengill, Highland 10.09.13
41days 72km 91deg
2682478 ENR 31.07.13 Strathy Point, Highland 05.08.13
5days 18km 78deg
2682483 ENR 31.07.13 Bur Wick, South Ronaldsay, Orkney 05.09.13
36days 82km 76deg

a collection of pixels from 2013