Update from Pam

I am home from my three week trip to Scotland. The first eleven days, John and I, (my pal who lives in Fairlie on the Ayrshire west coast), cycled to Raasay to visit Graham and Irene where we stayed for three nights! It was good to see the island that one hears so much about and we were very well looked after. After reading about Mark's incredibly challenging ride, it makes our ride a little punitive!!!! Although it did not feel like that at the time for the northerly head wind going to Raasay was bitterly cold - and then a strong southerly for our return!! But we did manage to dodge the snow and only got wet once and that was on Arran on our last day. During my last week we cycled Bute, Great Cumbrae Island, all of 10 miles around the coastal road (but it does have a good hill with wonderful views), and various other destinations to visit friends. Bye the way, in the photo outside Raasay Youth Hostel I am holding John's bike that has a little electric motor to assist one up the hills etc. etc.!! I shall be out on Wednesday, leading B group to The Plough at Horsell! Hope they won't mind! Cheers Pam :)

From The North

Probably you weren’t, but if you were waiting for news from the north…

A start of 140 bed nights in 8 days coupled with fairly dismal weather meant hard work especially as I had man flu. Some days it did improve but usually just before 5(!); the high(?) was a 5.6 mile fishing trip (down to the pier for haddock from the van). But since the bank holiday, fewer and fewer guests mixed with better and better weather have left plenty of time to rediscover most parts (pigs!) of the island. It’s been blue skies and strong winds though due to a direction change it’s now “all clothes on” days after days of sunstroke weather. Saturday we’re off – trains to Rogart, a quick Far North West tour and home on Thursday.

Graham Hill

Raasey Times

Raasay Times - Final Edition

A Skye circular (47 miles), our only long ride, ended at 1230, which made G even grumpier as the ferry left at 1315 (not 1235 due to my misreading of the timetable). During a roughstuff we met the Tamworth Two of Eyre (siblings of last week’s departed four), a grieving woolly jumper and a lot of tall ferns. Bednights are up 50% on last year so we’ve been busy and restricted to short walks; despite my urging G would not make a close inspection of the old iron mine shaft so is still with us. Today’s heavy rain (the first since we got here) provoked a cowardly and sustained attack by local hooligans, namely the council tip seagulls, on our washing line. That’s it – next week we’ll be making our way via Mull Iona and Islay to Glasgow and should be home late on Friday night. And next year we’ll be back here again!
From Graham Hill

Raasay Times 2

Around the time Grumpy was demonstrating a two steps and knee bog trot near the bothy, her front inner tube exploded at the road end (Windlesham ride encore!). But the Tamworth Four (www.lifeattheendoftheroad.com) seemed unperturbed when we met up with them later; perhaps weightier matters were on their mind like it being their last Thursday on Earth.

Otherwise the kids' arrival has limited us to island walks - Holoman, Hallaig, Dun Caan, etc. Wildlife included stags, seals, herons (nesting) and Raasay vole (dead) amongst the primroses, violets, and emerging rhodies. The plumber, sweep and coalman have left us with a fully working hostel. The guests are at the bothy tonight, so we're looking forward to a Skye cycle ride today.

R***fall since arriving: 0.00cm

G

Raasay Report

God this is an awful place - never known Raasay as dry as this; no rain since we arrived and none forecast until next week. Grumpy's complaining it's too hot for the clothes brought but we must keep the fire alight as currently it's the only source of hot water. Tonight's treat is football in Gaelic!

Now the door's back on the bike shed we're nearly ready for Friday's quiet (zero punters) opening night. Soon we'll be off to the top of the island (see www.lifeattheendoftheroad.com) before all hell breaks out as the toffs arrives on Saturday to fill the hostel.

From Graham & Grumpy

Final Raasay Report

As we left Raasay the promised winds arrived and we were blown up to the Quiraing where we suffered a thorough soaking. For the rest of the week it could have been more perfect - tailwinds most of the way and cool bright conditions. On Sunday and respecting the Sabbath, we walked from Tarbert to Rhenigidale YH and back - 11 miles and very lumpy (3000' of climbing).

For Irene's benefit, Callanish was next and on Tuesday's return to Berneray YH we met 42(!) cyclists excluding those who turned up after we reached the hostel. Cycling gently through the Uists meant Wednesday's stop was Howmore YH where I couldn't resist tidying up. Friday saw us depart from Barra at 07:00 hours on the 7+ hours cruise to Oban from whence we rode to Inveraray.
Our final stop was beside Loch Eck before boarding the first of several trains in Gourock. That's just over 300 miles.

From Graham Hill

Rasaay News May 30th

We woke up to no water – a burst water main, a problem that lasted all day. So we decided to take a leaf out of last Sunday’s C&M book and took the bus to Portree under leaden and liquid skies. Naturally we rode the bikes to the ferry and almost didn’t get wet. This was the second day of continuous rain so Grumpy has been grumpy. We’re winding down now and looking forward to 20-50 mph winds on our ride north to Uig on Saturday.

Rasaay Youth Hostel

From Graham & Grumpy?

Rasaay News

The last 24 hours have been a haven of tranquillity as our young visitors departed for a night of character building under canvas at the north of the island. All were issued with compo rations but some may go hungry judging by the stuff left behind. In truth it's been pretty easy as they're public school chaps and chapesses.

We've restored the hostel (except naturally the dorms) to its normal state but it took quite a while. We've been walking most days and only managed short rides northwards to Brochel and southwards to Eyre. The "main" road features 11 arrows in 8 miles with winds averaging 20 mph and occasional spiteful showers so relaxing uses copious energy in short bursts. Hopefully the weather will improve, no doubt after the bank holiday.

Graham Hill

Rasaay Youth Hostel
Creachan Cottage, Raasay, Kyle

D Group in Scotland

Ron & Doreen Powney turned up expectedly mid-afternoon. I thought they were coming next week. They're staying for the night. The weather has taken a nosedive after decent weather since our arrival.

Yesterday's D ride was Raasay-Glenbrittle camp site-Struan-Portree-Raasay.
Probably only short rides/walks for the next few days (until the end of the month?) as the forecast isn't promising.

Graham Hill
Rasaay Youth Hostel
Creachan Cottage, Raasay, Kyle
IV40 8NT

Raasay Times no 4

The new assistant warden was collected last Saturday from Kyle and has settled in well. There has been a marked improvement in the catering but I had to deduct marks for damaging a fire door (excuse: curiosity) during an alarm test. The weather's still OK so we've done the sites: Dun Caan, Hallaig, Raasay House, North End where I confess I was outdistanced. I attributed this to a lack of suitable climbs in the Surrey Hills.

Today saw a small loop round Skye (Sligachan, Struan, Portee) in wind (lots of it). Having missed the ferry in the morning, we only just avoided the same calamity in the afternoon; next time Irene may have second thoughts about going to the front. No more exercise envisaged as we're awaiting an HQ inspection, an electrician to fix one shower and we're giving the hostel a thorough cleaning before handing over on Saturday and heading for Cape Wrath. See you all after Bank Holiday.

Graham Hill
Raasay SYHA Hostel, Creachan Cottage Raasay, Kyle IV40 8NT

Raasey Times

Subject: Raasay Times 2006 issue 3

And still they don't come - just one couple stayed the weekend. So I've had to move out of character and washed/cleaned/polished/cut/chopped/mended everything. Definitely not what this job's all about. Thursday evening was most interesting. The severe thunderstorms affected 5 hostels. Here the power was cut off, the alarm sounded on 3 separate occasions, and the PC (modem) expired whilst all around the water kept on rising. It got over the doorstep but not the doorframe! Being of optimistic mind I retired and hoped. You may have noticed that Skye has been the hotspot of Britain over the last few days so I've managed a trip to the northern end of the island as well as two long rides on Skye. But you cant see a thing this morning and it's a lot colder; perhaps the day to try out my newly swept stove.

(Never mind, Graham - you'll soon have Irene to fuss over! Brian)

Graham Hill

Raasay SYHA Hostel,
Creachan Cottage
Raasay, Kyle
IV40 8NT

Scotland

Hello Wayfarers all

At least there have been visitors; three to be precise and none expected until the weekend so I've not been overworked. "Tha buird is rairnean air an uinneig" We whose Gaelic is up to the mark will recognise the opening line ("The window is nailed and boarded") of Sorley Maclean's poem "Hallaig" (a clearance village for the ignorant). We, that is I passed that way on Sunday during a walk up our wee mountain Dun Caan. Last weekend's weather was quite splendid and from the top I could picked out the Outer Hebrides, lots of NW Scotland (Torridon and beyond) and naturally most of Skye. More cows on the roads than cars (3 again) so a quiet bank holiday. Since then it's been downhill; groundsmen would be talking about the forking weather; nothing's drying - drought you must be kidding! But there are moments of joy - soaked day visitors trudging past wearily on their 3-mile hike to the ferry and comparative shelter. At least the accompanying wind has had a Bessemer effect on the stove, which now produces heat. But I'm having a sweep in later this week or next; I bet I'll have lots to clear up once he's gone. The bike's stayed in the shed apart from its daily trip to the shop but I'm hoping to get over to the mainland (Skye) before next weekend. I do believe the sun popping out so enough of this - I must away and put up my smoking ban notices.

Graham Hill

Rasaay SYHA Hostel,
Creachan Cottage
Rasaay, KYLE
IV40 8NT