1 P.M.
JC: Timo heads out once again, bang on low tide with the swell squeezing into the bay closing out right across the channel. One mistake here could potentially be nasty since there are all sorts of rips running out towards the rocks. By 2 P.M. even Timo has to call it a day after so many waves and wipeouts. Our ferry is booked for 8 P.M. but we both reckon we have scored the best of the day with the wind due to swing onshore. We mutually agree to go and try and catch an earlier 3:30 ferry from Stornoway. It is not often Timo or myself will leave wind and waves, but the clouds are rolling in and the physical toll has already been enough!
3:30 P.M.
JC: We make it onto the early ferry, both knackered from the previous two days of driving and time at the beach. So far this trip has been alcohol free but after such an amazing day we both treat ourselves to a small bottle of wine. Boy how things have changed since a wild night back in Wick at a nightclub on the first ever Motely Crew road trip back in 2002!
5:30 P.M.
JC: We arrive in Ullapool blown ahead of schedule by the high winds. The ‘sat-nav’ predicts we will be back in Southampton in a mere twelve hours, yippee! A text from my wife is accompanied by a picture of my son and one of his mates on his way to the prom. Ironically his mate has a long fringe and in my books is the one who doesn’t look so cool, but what do I know?
7 P.M.
JC: Just when you thought it was all over, Timo comes up with a plan to find a Loch to sail in. It is still windy and I know he will always be happy to claim another session. So we turn off at Aviemore on a detour to find a watersports centre. An hour later we scrabble back onto the motorway unable to find a decent launch spot. To be fair to Timo, some of the scenery in this part of Scotland is second to none and windsurfing in some of the Lochs we passed by would have made for some awesome pictures.