Moving On

Our house is sold and we expect to be moving on at the end of the month.

After 21 years in Kilchoan, and now downsizing to a small flat, we have a huge amount to get rid of. Some we're selling - prices negotiable - like....

APC Battery Back-Ups for power cuts and surges, two, bought August '16 and Feb '15 - £20 each

Single bed, with headboard and drawers under - £35

Inflatable double mattress with electric pump - £8

Bisley 15-drawer metal filing cabinet - £50

Dehumidifier, hardly used - £40

Drain rods and chimney brush - £10

Office chair, good quality, swivel - £25

B&W laser printer - £5

....but we also have plenty of things just looking for a good home, like A4 ring binders, picture frames, glass kitchen storage jars (various sizes), glasses, crockery....

We can be contacted on 293.

Earthquake!

A double earthquake was felt across much of the Ardnamurchan peninsula and across to Mull early this afternoon. The two shocks, of magnitude 3.4 and 3.8, caused things to fall off shelves at Kilmory, while most observers described the movements as being accompanied by the sound of a truck running down a cobbled road.

The clip above is from the British Geological Survey website here.

Glenborrodale Accident

Many thanks to Geoffrey Campbell for this photo of the accident which occurred late yesterday afternoon on the Glenborrodale side of Dale Cottage.

Geoffrey reports, "The ambulance was heading to Kilchoan to attend an emergency and met a car on the bridge. Fortunately no one was injured but the Mini was shunted backwards through the bridge wall and the ambulance ended up balanced on the other wall in an 'Italian Job' pose.

"Emergency services soon attended including two fire engines, another ambulance and the police; only the coastguard was missing. All was put right with assistance from the Loch Shiel Garage and Ardnamurchan Estate."

With the road blocked for over two hours, the NHS switched rapidly to Plan B - a medivac helicopter appearing over Kilchoan soon afterwards to deal with the original emergency.

A Big 'Thank You!'

From Alasdair Thornton:

My wife Rona says that only I would choose the morning of 1st April to fall off my bike and break my humerus - see story here.

However it does give me an opportunity to recognise the outstanding professional support shown to me by the Highland and Islands community and our hard pressed NHS. So, a big 'thank you' to the West Ardnamurchan First Responders, Jessie and Maggie; to the ambulance team from Strontian; and  to the team flown up by helicopter from Glasgow in case of a head injury.

Fortunately my helmet had served its purpose and my daughter was able to take me to the Belford in Fort William who quickly processed me and confirmed the fracture to my left arm.

A number of other thanks are also due, to the bus driver on Mull who cheerfully loaded both my bike and my daughter Lucy’s bike onto his bus in Calgary and took us back to Tobermory, and to the friends and well-wishers in Kilchoan who made sure our bikes came back to Cruachan.

We are now back safely back in Edinburgh waiting to find out if the bone will need to be pinned - hopefully not.

It was a very humbling but heart-warming experience despite my discomfort, and Lucy and I can’t thank you all enough.

Air Ambulance Again

The Raptor, who took these pictures early this afternoon, writes, "The air ambulance paid its second visit on consecutive Saturdays to rescue cyclists in trouble." It's seen here landing at the playing field beside the Community Centre.

The ambulance from Strontian was already tending the casualty and is seen here leaving the scene.

The Raptor continues, "Both ambulances left without an extra passenger, a lucky escape for the cyclist."

Many thanks to the Raptor for pictures & story.

Cyclist Injured

A cyclist was seriously injured on Saturday morning while coming down this hill on the west side of the Basin, not far from Camas nan Geall - full report here.

The Most Westerly Burns Night?

From Alasdair Thornton:

Around the turn of the century, celebrations of Scotland’s greatest poet, Robert Burns, found their way along the Ardnamurchan Peninsula.

Details of exactly when they started are somewhat blurred, we do know however that Selkirk Builder Alan Tough (Toughie) was instrumental in setting things up and remains heavily involved to this day.

The first gatherings were held at Sonachan and moved to Glenborrodale Castle for the last couple of years.

Tickets were invariably scarce and to meet ever increasing demand the venue this year will be the Kilchoan Community Centre where, with the considerable help of the Community Centre Board, we hope to accommodate over sixty guests.

The Bill O’ Fare includes beer and cheese from the Isle Of Mull, May McNicol’s famous tablet, and award winning haggis all the way from Selkirk with an escort of 29 of Selkirk’s finest.

Songs, poems and traditional speeches are all planned with all proceeds from the tickets, at £20, going towards local community projects via the Community Centre.

In addition a raffle, for which donations are welcome, will be held and funds split between good causes in Kilchoan and Selkirk.

Tickets for the event, on 3rd February at 7pm, are available from the Steading Holidays Office in Kilchoan.

Calor Clean-Up

It rapidly became apparent after yesterday's accident in which a Calor tanker left the Sanna road and ended up on its side in the ditch that, while the gas remaining in the tank seemed safe enough, diesel was pouring out of a ruptured fuel tank. The diesel can be seen on the water surface at bottom right of Sue Cheadle's picture.

As Sharon MacLachlan's picture clearly shows, large amounts of diesel was soon visible some distance downstream, in the Millburn near the bridge by the fire station.

Although the Calor Gas office was informed of the accident the fire brigade was not called out. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency was also informed but stated that, because the spill would not enter the local water supply, and it was rather late in the day, no-one would be despatched to carry out and inspection.

The greatest concern was that various farm animals, and two horses, graze fields which have access to the burn, and one drink of diesel-contaminated water can be fatal.

Fortunately, a local business has all the equipment to deal with an oil spill and the job was completed this morning. All that remains is for Calor to make an estimated £300-worth of repairs to the road and to mend Hughie's fence: well, we can't have his pigs running amok around Kilchoan.

Many thanks to Sue and Sharon for pictures.

Calor Gas Truck Misadventure

Many thanks to Richard Houston for these pictures of a Calor Gas tanker which left the Sanna road just past the waterworks track this afternoon.

Sue Cheadle reports that, "The driver was obviously shaken assured me he was not injured and was waiting on the recovery truck."

Richard added that a heavy recovery truck passed west through Glenborrodale about 15.40.

This is the second 'misadventure' involving a heavy truck. A fish farm lorry left the road last Thursday after getting lost out at the lighthouse - post here.

Fish Farm Lorry's Misadventure

Kilchoan Early Bird writes, "This fish farm lorry took a wrong turn and went too far, ending up at the lighthouse last night.

"As there is no turning area for such a big lorry he tried reversing back along the road but ended up skidding on ice and into the ditch.

"Some of the fish are now unloaded and an attempt will be made to move it soon."

Many thanks to Kilchoan Early Bird for pictures & story.

Jonathan Ball

Jonathan Ball, who has owned the Ferry Stores for the last ten years, died on Thursday evening after a brave fight with cancer. As well as running a remarkably stocked shop, Jonathan was very active in the community, being on the boards of the Community Council, Community Development Company, Community Centre and Lighthouse Trust.

Our deepest condolences go to his wife Susanne and to his family.

Road Blocked

The road into Kilchoan is blocked between Glasbheinn Cottages and the Kilchoan Hotel after a truck left the road. Small cars can just get by but larger vehicles, including this morning's Shiel Bus service to Fort William, can't. Out&About, to whom many thanks for this report, says that it may be some hours before the road is clear.

Emergencies

This photograph, taken this morning, looks from the Ormsaigbeg coast to Glas Eilean on the far side of Kilchoan Bay. Beyond Glas Eilean can be seen the island of Oronsay on the far side of Loch Sunart, and the entrance to Loch na Droma Buihde. The sea loch is a favourite place for yachts to moor overnight, but strong winds yesterday morning caused one to drag its anchor, as a result of which the Tobermory lifeboat was called out - full story on the Tobermory lifeboat Facebook page here.

Yesterday also saw the Kilchoan fire brigade called out to a house fire in Portuairk which may have been caused by faulty wiring. Well done to the team who arrived on scene within twenty minutes of being called out and dealt with the fire with commendable efficiency.

Repairs Approved for Ardslignish Brae

For some months now this remote community has been increasingly concerned about the state of the B8007 at Ardslignish Brae, between Adslignish Farm and Greenwood.  At the point arrowed in the above Bing satellite picture, the road has been steadily sliding off down the hill. Since the B8007 is the only road connection between western Ardnamurchan and the rest of civilisation, a catastrophic landslip there would leave us cut off.

Highland Councillor Andrew Baxter writes, "I am aware of the community’s continued concern about the Ardsliganish subsidence. At Community Services committee on Thursday, we agreed additional roads capital funding for next year’s budget. As part of that programme, work at Ardslignish has been approved. The Lochaber Roads Engineer, Mark Smith, tells me the works will be ordered for commencement as soon into the new financial year as Breedon Aggregates can start the programme.

"Mark Smith will let me know when they can carry out the works, but I have asked for a start date in April. This will be dependent on what potentially larger trunk road contracts they may have.

"The proposed scheme at Ardsliganish includes regulating, reinforcing mesh inlay and an overlay to the affected area.”

Le Boreal - Dramatic Rescue

Trevor Potts, who runs the Ardnamurchan Campsite through the summer and is currently working on the cruise ship L'Austral in Antarctica, has had an exciting 24 hours. Yesterday he reported on Facebook, "Our sister ship, Le Boreal, had an engine room fire and they abandoned ship at first light. We arrived to take about 250 people onboard. We are now heading for Stanley. No casualties. Fire is out on Le Boreal. I am on L'Austral with all the rescued people."

The Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Clyde was also close by and able to reach the cruise ship to assist in the rescue. There's video footage from her helicopter, and more information here.

Photo above shows Le Boreal passing Kilchoan.

Happy News

Congratulations to Katie and Graeme Stafford, Pier Road, on the arrival last Sunday of Rowan Milburn, a brother for Gracie.

Tomorrow, John Ruairi O'Connor will marry Caroline Lindsay. To celebrate the happy occasion, the O'Connors have issued an invitation to all to the wedding dance, which takes place at Glenborrodale Castle - details on the West Ardnamurchan News here.

Minke Whale off Kilchoan Bay

Photo Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust

This picture of a minke whale was taken just off Kilchoan Bay two weeks ago from the Silurian, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s research ship. There are a few places left for Dr Conor Ryan’s talk about the history of our relationship with the whales and dolphins around Scotland this coming Friday - full details and how to book here - but the Leaning Centre has asked that you reserve a place if you wish to come along.

2015 Regatta - Day 1

Day 1 of the 2015 West Ardnamurchan Regatta saw morning and afternoon sailing races which took place in a steady southwesterly breeze under largely grey skies.  The competitors started in Kilchoan Bay and....

....after tacking along the Ormsaigbeg shore, headed off....

....in the direction of Mull, where the second buoy had been dropped close to Ardmore Point light.  The next leg was to a third buoy off Glas Eilean, followed by a short run home.

It was a safe day out for all the boats, though Flora is seen here heeling in the wind, but....

....Chris Gane in the race safety boat reports, "Geoff Campbell and Alex Hester went over after the race while practising for tomorrow. It was a textbook righting. You can just see Alex's red sleeve while tucked into the hull of the boat as Geoff stands on the centreboard and begins to pull."

"The boat comes upright and Alex pops up to grab the sheets and stop it tipping straight over the other way. Geoff gets a leg over the side and jumps back in, and....

"...then they are on their way."

Many thanks to Hughie MacLachlan for pictures 1 & 2,

and to Chris Gane for remaining pictures and commentary.

2015 Annual Kilchoan Pram Race

The sixth annual Kilchoan Pram Race had the theme 'The Sea' so, in keeping with that damp spirit, the weather performed perfectly. Not that heavy rain put off either performers or the large crowd that gathered to watch.

Picture shows the start of the Under-12 race....

....which was won by Holly, Megan and Maria in their craft Under the Sea.

The Under-16 event was sadly lacking in competitors, but Claudia and Katie in their Jaws Inc more than made up for it by winning the overall best pram prize.

Rosie and Morven in Kilchoan Lifeboat started the adults' race in fine style, though building a boat - particularly a lifeboat - out of cardboard, on a wet day, is asking for trouble.

HMS Lobster Pot, with Tom and Will, set off at high speed and with the sort of steely determination - or is that a look of terror? - which promised well for them, while....

....SS Olive is seen here piloted by Sine and powered by Justin as they entered the last hundred yards to the finishing line. It's up-hill, so little wonder that even Popeye was exhausted. Despite the effort they didn't win, but did have the satisfaction of walking away with the best fancy dress prize.

At this point proceedings were interrupted by the Kilchoan Fire Brigade who had been called out to a fire in Pier Road - picture courtesy Hamza Yassin Photography.

Picture shows the Under-12 winners. with Holly, Megan and Maria in first place, Isla and Eadie in second, and Molly and Katey in third.

The junior winners were Claudia and Katie who, despite lacking competition, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the event.

All but one of the Adult winners were there to receive their trophy. Tom and Will were in first place, Katie and Lauren in second, and third were Morven and.... the empty survival suit was left by Rosie, who had rushed off to join her colleagues in fighting the fire.

Many thanks to the organising team, from left Amanda, Ricky, Richard (at front), Tony and Chris - with apologies to timekeeper Alastair who couldn't be found at the right moment.

Hamza Yassin's Facebook page is here,

Cross-Sound Swimmer

From Sandra Campbell:

Today Melissa Glackin, a regular visitor to Kilchoan, fulfilled her ambition to swim from Kilchoan to the Isle of Mull.

The water temperature was a chilly 13°C but in spite of some pretty cold extremities Melissa made the 4.4km crossing in 1 hour 50 minutes.

Not too many jellyfish were encountered, three jelly babies were eaten en route, and a flask of hot sweet tea at Ardmore Point was much appreciated. The return was made via RIB.

Well done Melissa!

Many thanks to Sandra for pictures & story.