Tuesday 23 February 2010

Unusually Cold Weather

The days are noticeably lengthening. The sun was almost up at 7.30 this morning, rising over the mouth of Loch Sunart, with Ben Hiant to the left, and it was still light yesterday evening after 6.00pm. The air temperature during the night fell to -3C, leaving a thick frost across the ground. We've had so many consecutive nights of frost that the earth is now like rock. For many readers, this will seem perfectly normal for winter, but it isn't for Kilchoan. Dochie Cameron, whose 70th birthday was celebrated in style last weekend up at the Sonachan Hotel, cannot remember a winter like it. Last year we had half-a-dozen ground frosts and only one night with the air temperature below zero.

The days have been crystal clear, and the sun so warm that, by midday, it's possible to sit out and sunbathe. This photo shows the mouth of the Sanna Burn with Eilean Carrach on the horizon and the rough grass of the machair in the foreground.

All progress on the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse wind turbine has come to a halt. When the turbine arrived it was found to be full of water - it had been stored up-side down in Aberdeen. So the tower lies forlornly on its side. By the time they bring out the replacement it'll probably be blowing Force 10.

The Yeoman Bontrup, a bulk carrier, headed down the Sound at 9.00 this morning. The warm, early sun caught the red paint on its superstructure and, beyond, the snow-covered hills of north Mull.

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