Muck, Mallaig and home

Eigg

Final day.  A slow start gave everyone the chance to sort out kit, slurp coffee and enjoy the sun.  The ferry was due at 13:00 so there was plenty of time to get packed and make our way along the shore track to the shop and tea room.  Clutching a large coffee and slab of flapjack I joined some of the others outside, this was the hub of the community on this side of the island, the postie stopped for a brew, the guy delivering supplies to the other side of Eigg had a cuppa while his food orders were made up.  There were other folks waiting for the ferry, locals were calling at the shop for bits  and  pieces, there was even two sea canoeists who had paddled the eight miles from Arisaig, were having a brew and cake before heading back to the mainland.  Eventually it was time to wander the couple of hundred metres along the pier to wait the last fifteen minutes or so before the ferry arrived.

Norm having a snackattack!

About to disembark in Mallaig

All aboard, and the ferry was off.  13:45, a quick call in at Muck then off again this time homeward bound.  At 14:30 alarms began to sound! is this for real or what??  It turned out to be a full crew fire exercise, guys in breathing apparatus, the whole works!!  After about fifteen minutes things were back to normal and the canteen was back open.  In the meantime the skipper of the ferry had invited Ian and the junior part of our team to visit the bridge!  Apparently this is something very few of the ferry captains permit!!  15:30 Mallaig, off load, stash the gear into the car and van and away up the road back to Elgin and on again for Norm and myself to BH.