September Gale

This morning we're enjoying the first gale of the winter, a southeasterly with gusts up to force 6 late yesterday afternoon and force 7 by three this morning - this measured on an anemometer which is relatively low-lying and has a pine tree directly southeast of it, so the true readings were probably a good bit higher.

All yesterday the wind brought clouds and sunny intervals, but not a drop of rain, nor has it rained overnight. It was ideal walking weather to we trudged over the hills to the west of Ormsaigbeg to the deserted village of Reidh-dhail, but the small boats moored along the Ormsaigbeg shore were having an exciting time of it. It's the worst wind direction for them as it blows straight into the angle of this bay, making the seas very choppy, while the larger boats in Kilchoan Bay are well protected by Glas Eilean.

The number of yachts passing in the Sound has fallen drastically in the last few days, but this good-looking boat passed yesterday afternoon, motoring into the wind. She's the Spirit of Fairbridge, a 92' sail training schooner operated by Fairbridge, a charity which offers opportunities for young people from the inner cities to develop life skills - more about her here.

Many of the leaves on the trees are already brown at the edges, and this wind will turn them quickly, but it's a time for rich pickings along the hedgerows. Walking down to the shop first thing we passed brambles laden with fruit, a fair crop of hazel nuts, and damsons scattered along the tarmac.