Wednesday 16/02/05

Today, I headed out on the bus to Carloway at 12.45. The people on the bus were having a right old laugh about the presenters on Isles FM, who have some difficulty with the English. Saying incinerate whilst meaning insinuate. Got off at the Carloway cross roads at 1.30, and started off by heading down towards the pier to view the weatherglass. A barometer and thermometer, bought for the island fishermen by their womenfolk many years ago. Then across to Garenin, for a look at the Blackhouse Village. Had lunch their, of some extremely old buns. The buildings were all closed, it being well out of season. Only the loo is open :). Headed across the moors towards Dalmore, following yellow sticks, set to indicate the way. Bit difficult to track them all, but it is a very scenic trek, and well worth the while in better conditions. Finally ended up at Dalmore at 4pm, after a very hairy trek across a hillside which sported a 45° angle. Nice. The Fibhig inlet had the remains of a house. Children were playing in the surf at Dalmore beach. You descend through a landscape of sanddunes towards a huge cemetery. After a cup of tea in the admittedly cold wind, I went south along the road. The sheep followed me, after I had baa'd pleasantly. Far less pleasant was the poor sheep at the south end of the village, which had been unable to get up and which had had its eyes pecked out by the hooded crows. Ghastly sight. Returned to the Dalmore Road end at 5 o'clock, in time for the Stornoway bus. It's a very nice trip through Shawbost and Arnol.