On Wednesday we should have made the crossing to our beloved Colonsay for a week's holiday. The ferry company, Calmac, rang on Tuesday afternoon to say that the sailing was cancelled. The weather on Wednesday was not good. Strong winds, high seas. Disappointing - understatement. Anyway, we did get away yesterday, with a detour to Mull to drop off others who had not been able to cross the day before. We finally arrived here yesterday afternoon, just after 4pm. Oh, happy day. Oh, very happy day!
We haven't been to Mull for years, and I am not sure that yesterday's visit of roughly ten minutes counts! We had to leave the ferry, form an orderly queue of cars while the Mull visitors filed off, and then we were loaded on again. We set sail in a southerly direction, sitting at the back of the ferry, watching Mull and the hills of the mainland disappear into the murky distance.
And then three hours later, there it was. Colonsay, on our starboard side. It doesn't look much from this distance, but that is the joy of knowing this place. We have visited so many times now, that we know it is a veritable treasure trove. All of the things I enjoy - white beaches washed clean by the Atlantic, wild flowers, bee hives, ancient history, and the lost gardens of Colonsay House where I love to walk with the dogs. These are the images I hold in my head when I am not here. I admit to having a bit of a tantrum on Tuesday, when I heard we were going to lose a day from our precious week. I even thought that now is the time to find somewhere else on the mainland. Somewhere which does not rely on a ferry crossing and the vagaries of the weather, and which will bring as much pleasure and peace as this place. However, when I saw the view from the deck, shown in the photograph below, I knew that this is where I want to be!
Our circular walk through the wood involves passing the gunnera plants. I have seen them as fist-sized fiddle-headed leaf buds, and as huge leaves, later in the year, but this year they seem to have exceeded themselves! The leaves are simply gigantic, and flopped across the path. Trying to navigate our way through, avoiding the pre-historic spiny stems, was a bit like a scene from Jurassic Park! We made it through but it was a bit touch and go!
I love this part of the wood, where rhododendrons with extremely large leaves grow. There are several varieties and I can't possibly work out which is which, but just enjoy the big leathery leaves and their range of early autumn colours. I invariably take a few leaves home with me. Can't resist!
And then three hours later, there it was. Colonsay, on our starboard side. It doesn't look much from this distance, but that is the joy of knowing this place. We have visited so many times now, that we know it is a veritable treasure trove. All of the things I enjoy - white beaches washed clean by the Atlantic, wild flowers, bee hives, ancient history, and the lost gardens of Colonsay House where I love to walk with the dogs. These are the images I hold in my head when I am not here. I admit to having a bit of a tantrum on Tuesday, when I heard we were going to lose a day from our precious week. I even thought that now is the time to find somewhere else on the mainland. Somewhere which does not rely on a ferry crossing and the vagaries of the weather, and which will bring as much pleasure and peace as this place. However, when I saw the view from the deck, shown in the photograph below, I knew that this is where I want to be!
Finally we arrived, unpacked the car and it was time to reward the dogs for being so good all day long. They had had several barking contests with two other Border Terriers on the ferry, but apart from that they behaved impeccably. So, off to the outer gardens of Colonsay House. It is a magical place, where there is always something to delight and surprise.
I love the colour of these hydrangeas, and amongst them I saw a shining golden spider. I can't identify it, but will spend more time looking.
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