Another trip is over
So I left home at 6:13am on Friday 24th of May and returned back at 12:32pm on Sunday 16th of June.
Whisky/Fèis Ìle
The first part of my trip was very whisky related. The trip proper started with meeting up with some of the pirate gang at Tebay services. No drinking other than diet coke at that stage.
Glasgow
The Pot still
After parking up it was time for a wee dram (or two… or maybe more). So off to The Pot still we headed and started to reform the gang who met up at Tebay and grow it with others who’d left at different times or come via plane rather than car. Beer and whisky were drunk, it was all rather good.
SMWS
As this was a whisky themed trip where else to book for dinner other than the Scotch Malt Whisky Society? Damn the food was good, and the drams were rather good too.
I did buy a bottle here, but it didn’t survive the trip in a good way in that it was shared with others.
Sadly had to have an fairly early night as was on driving to our boat pickup the next day.
Islay and Jura
(Including getting there)
Getting there (Saturday)
We left Glasgow at 6:15am on Saturday and did a rather painful tour of the roadworks at first. I’d given Patrick a lift. Patrick does not approve of a place being called “Kill Patrick”
We dropped our luggage off at the pier we were being picked up from and then drove three cars to the Kennacraig Ferry terminal and got the last two spaces (this was one of those luck was on our side days, the plan was always to take the third car back to the starting pier)
Anyway it as a great site to see the MV Honeydew at the pier when we fist pulled up there. We stayed out their way whilst they deboarded the previous week’s guests. I’d learn to the last trip the captain is a big fan of tunnocks teacakes so had taken some with me for his wheel house supplies.
Then it was a wee boat ride over to Port Ellen. Followed by a walk to Lagavulin and the trip had begun. A few pints may have been had in the Ardview on the way back to the boat.
Sunday
The boat took us round to Bruichladdich for the Rock’ndaal. Good whisky, good tunes and a good time. I found the bands last year easier to “dance” to, but it was all good fun.
Monday
A leisurely rise then boat trip back to Port Ellen. A trip to the Rum distillery and then tried an evening trip to the Ramsay hall for the whisky nosing and Ceilidh. I sadly can’t cope in Ramsay hall when it’s busy it just gets way too warm for me, and I ended up sitting outside.
Tuesday
A pleasant day at Laphroaig distillery. Really appreciated the shuttle service that they run and especially the staff member from Bowmore who heard about the queues of people waiting so drove over to help with the shuttle service.
Wednesday
This was a Bowmore day, we got the bus to and from Port Ellen for this. We did a extra tasting (well three of us did) here. All rather a pleasant day, quite a brutal sea breeze, but all rather fun.
Thursday
We took the boat over to Jura. Damn it was windy when we got there. I had to hold onto my hat walking down the pier to get to the pub. We went to the pub and the shop. We met a man for the distillery he recommended and purchased for us all a sherry cask jura. This became my dram of the trip.
Friday
This was actual Jura day. This became my distillery of the trip. I loved the smallness of it all, (less people get to this one as unless you happen to have a boat travel can be a pain)
Also helped by the band the Rollin’ Drones. I didn’t know bag pipes could be played in this way until then. Shame we had to miss the last set to get the boat back, but it sounds like the wind blew over a tent once we’ve left.
In the evening in anchored in the sea near Ardbeg we tried a deck Ceilidh, this was more like a bumper car experience. I did try and join in till my asthmatic lungs said no more.
Saturday
Due to a lack of taxis and how much stuff we had to be carted to the ferry terminal for the people departing the boat moved back to Port Ellen. So we could all get the bus to Ardbeg if we were staying. Hence we got the bus.
The circus theme was a bit of fun, but it would have been better if they opened on time.
Sunday
Off the boat and on a ferry via a gang plank that is a pain when you’re lugging your lugage.
Follow my a nice curry back in Glasgow.
Monday
Breakfast in Glasgow then off up to Port Gordon for me to stay with a friend and do a week of remote working.
Summary
Jura was defiantly my highlight this year, both for their open day and an extremely affordable nice dram in the sherry cask as £40 per bottle.
Plus if Rollin’ drones are ever in London might just have to go and see them.
The MV Honeydew was as awesome as ever. If I can make my above water lungs behave then one day I’d love to join them for diving, but for now I’ll just tell all my diving friends about them.
Remote work
Not much to say here, other than it was nice to see seals on the beach at lunchtime. Don’t get that in London!
Tough Mudder Scotland
I did my volunteer shifts 126,127 and 128. I got midge bites all over, thank fudge for antihistamine.
I saw one of the nicest people get his 100x headband at the weekend.
I got to charge my car right next to the castle before driving home.