Dulse and Mussels

04/11/2005

Monday brings a fair start to the week, high pressure and temperature rising to sixteen degrees. It stays dry in the morning with high cloud cover, which breaks about midday to give a blink of sun and blue sky. It is a different story by three o’clock, the westerly wind rises rapidly and heavy rain comes piling in. The ground is so wet that the burns roar within minutes and the river Trollaigh comes up to chase a few canoeists away by nightfall. Sunday saw dearest Dottie and I have a long lie after our trip south. Then off with the Kerrs on an early seaweeding trip towards the Dorus Mhor in a storm, as usual. The prize was to be a haul of dulse, but weather prevailed and we returned with only a kilo or two of excellent mussels. There was one interesting moment when the “Mhairi Katharine” drifted off, when we were all ashore on an isolated rock. Although I have to admit to a certain level of panic, a calm skipper resolved the situation, and all was well. The boat had been anchored with the heavy CQR anchor required by law, so heavy that it must be hauled with a hydraulic winch. It was interesting to note that the non-approved light and flimsy looking Fortress anchor favoured by the skipper has yet to fail. The fires are lit in the Tower of Glen Trollaigh tonight to cheers us all up as the wind whips around the buildings. The forecast is changeable for the next few days, and our thoughts turn to the Country Living Spring Fair that we are all helping to set up on Wednesday. Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.