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Sorry no blogs forthcoming lately - I wen't on a short trip to Oban - monday - back tuesday evening.(For me getting back into kelter takes a while.)
For the outward journey we had a good day - sunny but windy,and I enjoyed being on the upper deck of the " Isle of Arran " as she made her way to Coll and into the sound of Mull.
At one time, the bar was the main attraction for me on the ferry, but not so these days. For the first time ever, I had my binoculars by my side,and talk about seeing all with the scales taken from your eyes:-
Arinagour was more beautiful than I have ever witnessed it before - lovely white - washed houses,two churches brought into focus as never experienced,and a shelterd anchorage.
And so the journey continued contunied past Ardnamurchan, and tobermory beautifully renewed to my attention, and the happy event of the "games day" remembered.
And so it was all the way, I saw into every noock and cranny of every rock, cliff and hillside.And joy of joy, Duart Castle,my clan seat jumped at me from its rocky promontory. Athough I have never been there, I was pretty close this time.
It looks as if I must stop now for lack of writing space. Good Luck.
Island wanderer.

I made a blog yesterday, the first for a day or two, my theme being "The Waverely's Visit to Tiree."Unfortunately it didn't get off the ground owing to some blip.I will see with this short statement if the fault has cleared.
Gary of "Tobermory Tales" provided an excellent blog on the Waverley's visit -pictures as well - wonderful.

Island Wanderer.

Even at this belated date, I would like to relate, in this blog, the visit made by the Clyde paddle steamer Waverley to, Tiree a week last Sunday, via Oban and Tobermory carrying 500 passengers.
On arrival at Gott Bay pier, at 2-30pm, they all disembarked and disappeared into the hinterland of the island,while 250 locals and visitors embarked for an hours trip beyond land.
The visit by the Waverely was a truly historic occasion. We had often heard of her over the years, but now witnessed her old fashioned splendour: sleek and comely,in a beautifully painted condition,she was ,indeed,aspectuclar sight...
More to follow.
Island Wanderer.

When she sailed out she hugged the coast aroud Gott bay past Gunna sound towards Coll, and then taking a long broad sweep,returned to the pier.It was all over too soon, just as we were getting to enjoy the atmosphere -the wood panel surroundings, and having seen the beautiful shining steam engines.
Meanwhile the children enjoyed themselves, spending their pennies at the souviner shop.The elders bought tea and coffee from the cafetaria. And, ofcourse the inevitable bar attracted many.
We were all more than sad having to disembark and bid farewell to a grand old lady. We could only voice one last wish:Please come back again and stay a little longer.
Island Wanderer.

Having dwelt on the Waverely's trip to Tiree, my iamigination was cast back over the years, to when steam powder was still evident.
I was reminded of when the sturdy little coasters called "The Puffers" plied to all the islands of the west coast(I am sure, that all the blogging islands are aware of this too) An interisting period of carefree and happy days.
Tiree with no natural resources, that could be used as fuel depended entirely on importing its coal supplies. This was usually done in the early Summer months, by a fleet of these sturdy coal boats. And as I go back to when I was a boy, just over fifty years ago, they were steam driven.
And now to name a few of the romantic names they bore,such as: "Celt" "Dane" and "Anzac", all appropriate christenings for the hauliers of numerous materials into different inlets,bays and jetties.
More to follow,
Island Wanderer.

When the puffer would arrive in the bay, where she would drop anchor, and be ready to commence discharging next day,the young lads who were aware of her presence,would be truly exited. They were not used to boats, and this one, although not impressive in size, was attractive to them to the point of awe.
Word soon got around that she had reached; and strangely enough every one concerned would be gathered next morning. She was now beached on her broad keel, ready to commence the day's toil.
A tall ladder at her side gave access to the required stations for all those in the business of running the whole set up; and the crew could get ashore for a break.The man overseeing the discharging could give his orders to the diggers,who strove exceedingly in the hold.
After school the youngesters would climb up to see the intericate workings around the boat: winch, derick and steam engine, the wheelhouse and the compass.
More to follow
Island Wanderer.

The fist day of discharging coal was under way. The winch hissed away as the bucket went up and down; the derrick swung to and fro as the guy, deftly operated by a willing crew member stablised its motions.
It was hard work for the men,digging with sharp pointed spades, and sometime before they could use the square mouthed shovels. The hold was deep and dumpy; therefore hard to reach the bottom.
The activity could now be quite extraordinary as men cajoled horses, not just a little bit frightened by the incessant commotion. Horses and carts then were the only kind of haulage available - ideal for this type of work.
As the men awaited in conversation there would be much speculation regarding the quality of the coal - was it better or worse than last years.However, as all believed the burning would be the proof.
The island,at this time depended utterly on coal.It kept the home fires going Summer and Winter - every day. There were no other methods for heating, cooking or warming.

On the second day, the scene took on a different appearance. As the day progressed, a sense of finality prevaded. The hold was quickly getting emptier and all knew that the whole development was winding down.
The skipper now getting anxious that an evening deadline would be met,with the high tide being suitable for being outward - bound again. A quick turn - around being crucial to his continued sucess as a man of punctuallaty.
The sense of diversion and conviviality of late was now waneing and people gradually dispearsed.The last cart loaded the last remaining bit of coal. The whole operation was now completed and homes replinished for the year ahead. A tradition if not a culture once again prevailed.
A sad sense of immenint departure excisted among the remaining observers who wished to bid farewell to the sturdy puffer.
Quite soon she was to build up a head of steam and head for the open sea. Now lightened, with smoke bealching from her funnel,she proudly progressed.
Yes, she was a much respected representative of progress and industry in not just a few of the west coast islands.

Thanks to Jenny from Mull who gave a comment on my puffer blogs.I am delighted that her elderly father got much pleasure from having them read to him, and good memories of the past.
A little extra regarding puffers:
I understnd that they were first used by the Navy as supply carriers for their ships.Their potential as freighters, especially on the Scottish westcoast, became a possibility.
I suppose that steam puffer started on the western seaways at the turn of the last century, to disappear by the late 50's.
Neil Munro the author put these boats on the map in a very definate way with his Para Handy tales.
The diesel engined boat must have come in to being about the time of the 2'nd world war, and continued till about the 80's.The only names I remember are the "Halcyon"and the "Piobroch," Although the former was a converted Thames barge, she was accepted as a fully flegded puffer in the trade. The "Piobroch"on the other hand was very up to date boat altough with the traditional puffer lines.
These days are now over,and are lost in the past as regards the transport of heavy materials.








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