Hi there fellow Wabbers. After my trip to the Western Isles last summer, I spent the autumn and winter pining for Scotland and wondering, being unemployed, how I could get myself back up there for this summer. After a bit of head scratching and more than a few personal privations, which entailed a lot of "going without"
, I had it sussed. So at the beginning of June I arrived at Euston station with my bicycle, which I had built over the winter, with my tent and everything else I figured I would need and boarded the Caledonian sleeper bound for Fort William. The intention was to head for the west coast and islands to try and get a summer job somewhere, anywhere.
Arriving in F William on a monday morning, I stocked up with a bit of fresh grub and a few other essentials (skin so soft) and headed off for Mallaig. I was in no particular hurry, getting to Mallaig on the morning of the third day. The next day I crossed over to Skye on the ferry and started heading for Portree. I had been wild camping, but when I got to Sligachan, I decided to use the campsite there, as it was next to the hotel which had a very well stocked bar. (Approx 260 different malt whiskies)
Sligachan is right by the Cuillins and although I'm not a Munro bagger, a couple of hikes into the hills had to be done. Spending the weekend there and suitably refreshed,
I got to Portree campsite and planned my next move.
As I had left it a bit late in the season, I had no luck in finding work in Portree but did earn a bit of money collecting Wilks (Winkles)
. After 3 weeks in and around Portree, I decided to make for the Western isles and try for some work there.
The plan was to catch the ferry from Uig to Tarbert on Harris and make for Stornoway. I arrived in Uig after a
hard cycle and pitched my tent on the campsite, planning to catch the ferry across the Minch the next day.
After some vittels and grits and a shower, I repaired to the local pub to wet my whistle and after chatting to the barman, he told me that they were looking for staff for the kitchen and restaurant. Ah-ha, this sounded promising.
So I went to bed with every intention of returning the next day to speak with the manager
.
To be continued.
I will be posting photos, but I have to figure out how to re-size them first.
Also, I am now on the net at home at last
, so I hope to post more details and photos of last years trip, which are well overdue. Having to use the local library's computers with only 2 hours a day allowance is impossible and a pain in the
Watch this space
Summer on the isle of skye. Part one 
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