. . . . . . Nomad 151: Riding out Hurricane Bertha

The last few days we have been lucky enough to see a minke whale and a pair of golden eagles. We spent a night anchored off Muck and enjoyed a walk across the island. Muck has a thriving community of 34 with a fair number of children who were all on the beach making rafts for the race the following day. Before going into Tobemory we anchored for a spot of sunbathing and lunch in Loch Drombuie where the wastepipe from the galley sink came unattached and sea water was pouring in. SO lucky that we were on board as it was quickly fixed but if we had been ashore we could have come back to a sunken Nomad. Frightening. The last two nights we were sheltered from Hurricane Bertha in Loch Spelve, Mull. Friends took us ashore for a quick tour of the Lochbuie estate (beautiful) and a comforting cup of tea in front of a roaring log fire. We returned to the boat, despite very generous offers of a bed, knowing that we were in for a wild night. It was a bit like riding a bucking bronco crossed with a merry mixer, but the anchor held firm, despite my weird dreams of it dragging and us ending up beached up the Thames! The major casualty of the night was the outboard which had been drowned when the dinghy flipped during the night. Rich hoping to get it working again before we leave. Now in Craobh Marina, hoping for a rainless day tomorrow to dry everything out before we head home on Thursday.