A Stop Over in Stornoway

Monday / Tuesday 30^th / 31^st 2015

After leaving Loch Duich Monday morning we arrived at the sheltered Stornoway port around 16:00 in the afternoon. Given the opportunity we decided to explore the nightlife in Stornoway and visit a few pubs. On Tuesday six of us hired a car to explore the stunning landscape and remoteness that is the Isle of Lewis (and Harris). The weather was poor and highly changeable with high winds, hail, snow, rain and some sun, so we were all quite glad to not still be on transect!

 

 

Skye Bridge ahead.

Passing under the Skye Bridge.

The snow capped mountains of Scotland.

Sheltered Stornoway port.

A local seal.

Where on earth?!...

Windey roads through mountain and mist.

The hidden Caribbean.

Through the snow we go.

Wednesday 1^st 2015

We left port at 8.00 am this morning to find came seas. Unfortunately whilst leaving Stornoway we had a slight brush with some low hanging power cables which removed the two tallest aerials from the mast. A change in tide meant a narrow miss turned in to a hit. Fortunately the aerials didn’t disappear overboard and will be reattached soon. We will arrive back on transect at approximately 18:00 this evening where we will be greeted by 6 m swell. This should hopefully die down during the night. Then we can continue back on our acoustic hunt for blue whiting.

Watch out! Kees jumping into action.

 

...and they're gone.