Dougie pulls up our Loch Aline anchor earlier than usual (8:30). It’s few hours journey back down the Sound of Mull, into the Firth of Lorn, and finally through a narrow passage to Loch Spelve. As we enter the loch we get a good look at a white-tailed eagle, the largest UK bird of prey. Sadly, no good pics.
Loch Spelve is home to the Inverlussa Mussel Farm. It’s huge. The waters of Loch Spelve are ideal for rope grown mussel cultivation as it is very remote with little human habitation along it’s shores. Dougie finds a place to anchor and we zodiac to the farm’s processing facility where you can buy mussels. We are able to see the harvest and cleaning process – very interesting. We snagged a 2 kg bag for £2.50 for our lunch. What a deal!
After tea we leave Loch Spelve and take the short route across the Firth of Lorn to Easdale island. Easdale is famous for hosting the yearly ‘stone skipping’ contest. The waters are too rough to go ashore so we work our way towards our mooring spot for the evening on the small Isle of Lunga. We get very close to a strait known as the ‘Grey Dog tidal race’. During even moderate tides the flows are so strong that boats cannot pass through. It’s impressive even when viewed from a distance.
After dropping anchor in an unnamed cove on Lunga, Dougie and Esther decide we should have a ‘wet’ landing on our last full day. Neither have landed here before. The beach has some nice sand but abruptly transitions to large round rocks. Someone has built a tiny house, complete with tiny outhouse in the rocky area that is currently not occupied. They have left a note asking people to be respectful of their private property. Once past the house the area is heavily vegetated with no defined walking trails. Dick, Carolyn and Bridget decide they are going to try to bushwack to a promontory. Fools! Impossible to get through the brush. The rest of the group heads back down to the beach where Louise, Esther and Dougie are going for a very cold swim. Check off a bucket list item for Louise.
We were originally to be here for several hours, but the tide comes in quickly and the sandy beach disappears. Half the rocks are covered in water as well. Very challenging to walk on. By unanimous vote we decide to head back to the boat.
For our final dinner on the boat, Ian prepared an excellent fish casserole followed by a Black Forest Roll for dessert. We’re going to miss his cooking.
Dougie is an accomplished guitarist and after dinner he plays music and teaches us the words to several rousing sailing songs he has written. The group sings along to ‘Peace in the Chaos’ and ‘Readiness for the Storm’ while playing small wooden instruments he has provided to us as his back up. Quite good fun!
