Largs Viking Festival 2006
Posted: Tuesday, 03 October 2006 |
Arran Viking Longship Society had our annual invasion of Largs Viking Festival earlier this month and with the sail up we were able to sail there and most of the way back! Those of the crew who could get the day off, sailed over on Saturday 2nd Sept. in about four and a half hours, sadly I had to work so I got the ferry over the following Saturday to join the crew at Largs Marina. We were a bit late because the mezzanine deck on the ferry broke, one corner of the mezzanine dropped more than 5ft. No one hurt and none of the cars were damaged, it just meant that the 11.05 ferry didn't leave till 2.15, which was handy as I was cutting it fine to make the 1.50!
Due to the delay we just had time to drop our kit off at the flat kindly provided by Largs festival and head down to the marina to grab some sandwiches and beer before heading out to sea. I didn't get a chance to see The Viking Village or The European Market but heard they were both fantastic.
We sailed down past harbour and along the front of Largs, the Millport Ferry gave way to us thankfully, it could've been a bit hairy otherwise, then we went back to the Marina to pick up the Vikings for the re-enactment of the Battle of Largs. We were a bit late getting back because the wind was in the wrong direction. We were rowing like comedy Vikings and going nowhere, luckily a lovely yacht pulled up and gave us a tow back to the marina and they even gave us a bag of beer! I can't remember what their yacht was called, answers on a comment below if any of the crew took note so we can thank them properly. Then we filled up with Vikings and set off into the sunset.
The Usual Suspects
That's could put their voices up a few octaves.
We dropped the actor Vikings on the beach, well ... made them jump into the sea because we couldn't get any further in. There was a certain degree of shadenfreud watching them leap into waist deep freezing sea but they took it like vikings, even the poor girl who slipped and went under. This display did help to explain why the Scots won the Battle of Largs. After wading out of the sea in full battle gear, their run up the beach was more of a sploshy waddle. Some of them had been wearing hand made kid boots, I hope they weren't ruined.
Once the Actor Vikings had disembarked we rowed out so we could sit off the pencil to watch the battle as the sun set behind us. We were treated to a stunning moonrise over the cliffs then a spectacular firework display. Without doubt we had the best seats, it was a heart stoppingly beautiful night. All the photos are courtesy of Margo and Ann as I forgot to take my camera. They haven't sent photos of the fireworks so you will just have to take my word for it that they were gobsmackingly gorgeous. Then it was off into town to make the traditional disgrace of ourselves.
The next day we wrapped up warm for the sail home. A charming gentleman in a kayak very kindly took a photo of the longship with us all in it. We sailed as far as Cumbrae before becoming becalmed, despite some strenuous rowing we weren't going anywhere. The boys were happy to wait till the wind got up again but one of the lady Vikings had been desperate for the loo since leaving Largs and after 6 hours at sea I thought she might do herself a damage. She kept mentioning it, then Sheila started so that set me off. Sheila kept trying to make us laugh, she was lucky there wasn't a horrible accident. Then Neil started talking about pelvic floors. This made us finally called in the Arran Adventure RIB for a tow for the last few miles. I haven't laughed so much in a long time, my sides still ache! We were ready for a wee dram when we got back, after a mass invasion of the pub comfort facilities.
Peter using the ancient art of communicating at sea.
We gave up the old curtain fashions for something more substantial for the sail home to Arran.
Mark had been hiding these essential rations until things got truly desperate, he took pity on us eventally.
A great big thankyou to Largs Marina for the berth and Largs Viking Society for inviting us. Looking forward to next year! We are also planning and Invasion of Ardglass in Northern Ireland and hopefully we will make it back to the Isle of Man Festival.
Any members think I've missed anything please let me know.
See Sept 2005 archive for last years Largs trip and July 06 archive for Isle of Man 06.
For more information or to join The Arran Viking Longship Association call 01770 600 627
Due to the delay we just had time to drop our kit off at the flat kindly provided by Largs festival and head down to the marina to grab some sandwiches and beer before heading out to sea. I didn't get a chance to see The Viking Village or The European Market but heard they were both fantastic.
We sailed down past harbour and along the front of Largs, the Millport Ferry gave way to us thankfully, it could've been a bit hairy otherwise, then we went back to the Marina to pick up the Vikings for the re-enactment of the Battle of Largs. We were a bit late getting back because the wind was in the wrong direction. We were rowing like comedy Vikings and going nowhere, luckily a lovely yacht pulled up and gave us a tow back to the marina and they even gave us a bag of beer! I can't remember what their yacht was called, answers on a comment below if any of the crew took note so we can thank them properly. Then we filled up with Vikings and set off into the sunset.
The Usual Suspects
That's could put their voices up a few octaves.
We dropped the actor Vikings on the beach, well ... made them jump into the sea because we couldn't get any further in. There was a certain degree of shadenfreud watching them leap into waist deep freezing sea but they took it like vikings, even the poor girl who slipped and went under. This display did help to explain why the Scots won the Battle of Largs. After wading out of the sea in full battle gear, their run up the beach was more of a sploshy waddle. Some of them had been wearing hand made kid boots, I hope they weren't ruined.
Once the Actor Vikings had disembarked we rowed out so we could sit off the pencil to watch the battle as the sun set behind us. We were treated to a stunning moonrise over the cliffs then a spectacular firework display. Without doubt we had the best seats, it was a heart stoppingly beautiful night. All the photos are courtesy of Margo and Ann as I forgot to take my camera. They haven't sent photos of the fireworks so you will just have to take my word for it that they were gobsmackingly gorgeous. Then it was off into town to make the traditional disgrace of ourselves.
The next day we wrapped up warm for the sail home. A charming gentleman in a kayak very kindly took a photo of the longship with us all in it. We sailed as far as Cumbrae before becoming becalmed, despite some strenuous rowing we weren't going anywhere. The boys were happy to wait till the wind got up again but one of the lady Vikings had been desperate for the loo since leaving Largs and after 6 hours at sea I thought she might do herself a damage. She kept mentioning it, then Sheila started so that set me off. Sheila kept trying to make us laugh, she was lucky there wasn't a horrible accident. Then Neil started talking about pelvic floors. This made us finally called in the Arran Adventure RIB for a tow for the last few miles. I haven't laughed so much in a long time, my sides still ache! We were ready for a wee dram when we got back, after a mass invasion of the pub comfort facilities.
Peter using the ancient art of communicating at sea.
We gave up the old curtain fashions for something more substantial for the sail home to Arran.
Mark had been hiding these essential rations until things got truly desperate, he took pity on us eventally.
A great big thankyou to Largs Marina for the berth and Largs Viking Society for inviting us. Looking forward to next year! We are also planning and Invasion of Ardglass in Northern Ireland and hopefully we will make it back to the Isle of Man Festival.
Any members think I've missed anything please let me know.
See Sept 2005 archive for last years Largs trip and July 06 archive for Isle of Man 06.
For more information or to join The Arran Viking Longship Association call 01770 600 627
Spoon Island: Willow Weavers Big Birthday Invasion Of Sanda!
Posted: Thursday, 05 October 2006 |
Ever been to Spoon Island( It's that lumpy one at the bottom of the Mull of Kintyre)? The Basket Weaver decided to organise a mass expedition to Sanda for her Big (guess which) Birthday and it was absolutely perfect! Thanks Julie, you are a diamond star!
The First party of intrepid explorers left Brodick courtesy of The Arran Adventure RIB at about 5.45 on Friday night. Some of the party had already had long journeys to get to Scotland and then Arran so to face 40 miles of open sea on a tiny inflatable says a lot about how the weekend was going to go. These people are not wooses!
Look, opposable thumbs!
Holy Isle
Lamlash at speed (nothing new there then)
First sighting of our destination as we finally round the South End of Arran. A few people thought it was a bit small then realised it was a bit far away.
Mull of Kintyre
It was a beautiful night for the crossing, there was a bit of screaming... ok I did a bit of screaming but we soon got used to the waves and saw some fantastic seabirds including an indignant puffin.
Finally arrived, the farmhouse and pub were a welcome sight. Boats make people thirsty, must be the sea air.
Finally made it into the Byron Darnton. The pub is called this after the last ship to be wrecked on the island. The wreck is still visible at low tide. We had a lovely dinner which Dick, our host, cooked brilliantly despite being all alone as his wife and the rest of the staff were stuck on the mainland, with Julies' birthday cake and tomorrows' supplies. Apparently the ferry driver wasn't as brave or daft as we were. The plan was to have a quiet drink and early night as there was another boatload of guests coming the next day for the massive party. Then the conversation turned to whiskey tasting and you can guess the rest.
The Birthday Girl
Saturday dawned bright and stormy or at least so someone who got up for the loo said. We surfaced around noon, enjoyed a leisurely lunch then set out to explore the island. It's about a mile by a mile and a half and doesn't look much like a spoon at all. The spoon shape seen from Arran is made up by three islands; we were on the main one. Laing had an argument with someone about what the one off the bay was called. They wouldn't believe it was called Sheep Island because it's not shaped like a sheep.... It had been a very late night. Some of the group went up to the trig point but I could see it quite clearly from the beer garden so didn't bother. It is a wildly breathtaking place.
Sanda Lighthouse is built up the rock in stages. I've never seen one like this before. Clever eh?
Doing big arms for scale.
This is a closer view of the rock formation next to the lighthouse. The big slab at the top must be a fallen stack.
After all that exercise there was a general need for cheese, crisps and gallons of champagne as aperitif. We were ravenous so dug into the copious provisions we had brought with us including a dozen eggs. The first sign you see when you get to Sanda is an advert for fresh layed free-range island eggs, and we were tripping over chickens so the COOP eggs were perhaps a little unnecessary. The Saturday RIB full of all the people who couldn't get to Arran for Friday or were working Saturday arrived and after lots of gossip we went for Birthday Dinner.
Tucking into a fantastic meal. The menu was outstanding and the food was perfectly cooked. All washed down with lashings of ginger beer!
Julie Cutting her double chocolate birthday cake!
Kate and Susanna demonstrating the ancient art of bar mat wearing. Kate was fantastic as self appointed entertainments convenor. We had had a practice on Friday night but Julie maliciously cheated, the trollop, so Kate had devised a cunning and dastardly game of mass murder for Saturday night. It was absolute carnage all night with people luring each other into bizzare place to be done to death with unlikely weapons. I was murdered by Alan in the window with a noughty forty spangle from the table decorations. You get the drift... lots more cheating. Guests were still being bumped off the next morning as they attempted to leave.
Diana has converted to the Order of Sanda Promotional Hoodies
Happy Birthday Julie, more gorgeous than ever!
Dick, our host, popped open the champers at midnight, which was truly lovely of him and a welcome surprise for us!
Laing trying, and failing, to remonstraight with the Birthday Basket Weaver.
Power Napping
The party carried on in our cottage until one by one everone drifted off and I got to bed about 6ish.
The first boat left about 2ish with all the people who had ferrys and flights to catch. It looked a bit rough so I was happy for the opperchancity to have a nice lay in, do a bit of shopping in the shop and chill, after clearing up which was a major operation, some of the others went for a wander to the pirated caves. This gave the sea some time to get over it's hangover and calm down for a very plesant return crossing.
The ride back on the RIB was hysterical.
Didn't get a lot of photos, as it was a bit bumpy. Arran looked amazing as it started to get dark approaching the east coast. The clouds were low, the skies darkening, here be Dragons!
We dropped all the weather gear off at Arran Adventure and thanks the boys very much. That boat makes you hungry so we took ourselves along to Hotel Ormidale for a slap up dinner, listened to the beginning of the folk night, then hit The MacAlpine Hotel to see Stewboss, a fantastic band from California who are going to be massive! We boogied the night away. Best Birthday Party I've ever been to EVER! Thank Julie for a fantastic weekend and huge thanks to The Gannons of Sanda for making us so welcome and looking after us so increadably well! I thoroughly reccommend it.
N.B. We took the longship out on it's last sail, a couple of days ago, before going into dry dock for the winter. It was a stunning day and the porpoise were leaping along side us, took loads of snaps but kept missing them. Margo, did you get any? Would you believe this is October?
The First party of intrepid explorers left Brodick courtesy of The Arran Adventure RIB at about 5.45 on Friday night. Some of the party had already had long journeys to get to Scotland and then Arran so to face 40 miles of open sea on a tiny inflatable says a lot about how the weekend was going to go. These people are not wooses!
Look, opposable thumbs!
Holy Isle
Lamlash at speed (nothing new there then)
First sighting of our destination as we finally round the South End of Arran. A few people thought it was a bit small then realised it was a bit far away.
Mull of Kintyre
It was a beautiful night for the crossing, there was a bit of screaming... ok I did a bit of screaming but we soon got used to the waves and saw some fantastic seabirds including an indignant puffin.
Finally arrived, the farmhouse and pub were a welcome sight. Boats make people thirsty, must be the sea air.
Finally made it into the Byron Darnton. The pub is called this after the last ship to be wrecked on the island. The wreck is still visible at low tide. We had a lovely dinner which Dick, our host, cooked brilliantly despite being all alone as his wife and the rest of the staff were stuck on the mainland, with Julies' birthday cake and tomorrows' supplies. Apparently the ferry driver wasn't as brave or daft as we were. The plan was to have a quiet drink and early night as there was another boatload of guests coming the next day for the massive party. Then the conversation turned to whiskey tasting and you can guess the rest.
The Birthday Girl
Saturday dawned bright and stormy or at least so someone who got up for the loo said. We surfaced around noon, enjoyed a leisurely lunch then set out to explore the island. It's about a mile by a mile and a half and doesn't look much like a spoon at all. The spoon shape seen from Arran is made up by three islands; we were on the main one. Laing had an argument with someone about what the one off the bay was called. They wouldn't believe it was called Sheep Island because it's not shaped like a sheep.... It had been a very late night. Some of the group went up to the trig point but I could see it quite clearly from the beer garden so didn't bother. It is a wildly breathtaking place.
Sanda Lighthouse is built up the rock in stages. I've never seen one like this before. Clever eh?
Doing big arms for scale.
This is a closer view of the rock formation next to the lighthouse. The big slab at the top must be a fallen stack.
After all that exercise there was a general need for cheese, crisps and gallons of champagne as aperitif. We were ravenous so dug into the copious provisions we had brought with us including a dozen eggs. The first sign you see when you get to Sanda is an advert for fresh layed free-range island eggs, and we were tripping over chickens so the COOP eggs were perhaps a little unnecessary. The Saturday RIB full of all the people who couldn't get to Arran for Friday or were working Saturday arrived and after lots of gossip we went for Birthday Dinner.
Tucking into a fantastic meal. The menu was outstanding and the food was perfectly cooked. All washed down with lashings of ginger beer!
Julie Cutting her double chocolate birthday cake!
Kate and Susanna demonstrating the ancient art of bar mat wearing. Kate was fantastic as self appointed entertainments convenor. We had had a practice on Friday night but Julie maliciously cheated, the trollop, so Kate had devised a cunning and dastardly game of mass murder for Saturday night. It was absolute carnage all night with people luring each other into bizzare place to be done to death with unlikely weapons. I was murdered by Alan in the window with a noughty forty spangle from the table decorations. You get the drift... lots more cheating. Guests were still being bumped off the next morning as they attempted to leave.
Diana has converted to the Order of Sanda Promotional Hoodies
Happy Birthday Julie, more gorgeous than ever!
Dick, our host, popped open the champers at midnight, which was truly lovely of him and a welcome surprise for us!
Laing trying, and failing, to remonstraight with the Birthday Basket Weaver.
Power Napping
The party carried on in our cottage until one by one everone drifted off and I got to bed about 6ish.
The first boat left about 2ish with all the people who had ferrys and flights to catch. It looked a bit rough so I was happy for the opperchancity to have a nice lay in, do a bit of shopping in the shop and chill, after clearing up which was a major operation, some of the others went for a wander to the pirated caves. This gave the sea some time to get over it's hangover and calm down for a very plesant return crossing.
The ride back on the RIB was hysterical.
Didn't get a lot of photos, as it was a bit bumpy. Arran looked amazing as it started to get dark approaching the east coast. The clouds were low, the skies darkening, here be Dragons!
We dropped all the weather gear off at Arran Adventure and thanks the boys very much. That boat makes you hungry so we took ourselves along to Hotel Ormidale for a slap up dinner, listened to the beginning of the folk night, then hit The MacAlpine Hotel to see Stewboss, a fantastic band from California who are going to be massive! We boogied the night away. Best Birthday Party I've ever been to EVER! Thank Julie for a fantastic weekend and huge thanks to The Gannons of Sanda for making us so welcome and looking after us so increadably well! I thoroughly reccommend it.
N.B. We took the longship out on it's last sail, a couple of days ago, before going into dry dock for the winter. It was a stunning day and the porpoise were leaping along side us, took loads of snaps but kept missing them. Margo, did you get any? Would you believe this is October?
Goat Fell Wander
Posted: Saturday, 07 October 2006 |
We had the last beach party of the summer recently and you know how after a couple of glasses of wine, while lying on a sundrenched beach, looking up at a mountain range, climbing the biggest mountain seems like a good idea? Yup, suckered again. You would think I would know better as this is exactly how it got me last year. We decided to conquor Goat Fell the next day.
As it was the morning after the night before we set off at mid day. Julie and Sylvia went from Corrie and I left on my own from my house which is next to the path from Brodick.
The walk uo through the woods is really beautiful, the air was alive with butterflies and big fat dragon flies, red squirrels leaping around like nutters, rabbits bouncing, birds singing and deer pretending to be invisible.
It stayed fairly dry right up to the tree line, then it poured most of the way over the shoulder.
There's a fantastic view of Brodick Bay from up there.
Met Julie ant Sylv at the summit. It was very windy and the cloud had the cheek to come down and spoil the view. Typical! It took vitrually the same time from both routes. The Corrie route is much shorter but steeper, the Brodick route is definitely easier.
We had lunch down from the summit so our pieces didn't blow away, then we walked down together.
I don't know what this bug is but it's good isn't it?
It was a lovely walk. I like walking on my own, gives me time to really look around and soak it all up.
This is a painting I did of Cir Mhor from another photo taken from the Castles. That's Goat Fell on the left. The police presented it to Wilson last Thursday at his leaving do. He's off to police the big bad mainland. Good luck Wilson.
As it was the morning after the night before we set off at mid day. Julie and Sylvia went from Corrie and I left on my own from my house which is next to the path from Brodick.
The walk uo through the woods is really beautiful, the air was alive with butterflies and big fat dragon flies, red squirrels leaping around like nutters, rabbits bouncing, birds singing and deer pretending to be invisible.
It stayed fairly dry right up to the tree line, then it poured most of the way over the shoulder.
There's a fantastic view of Brodick Bay from up there.
Met Julie ant Sylv at the summit. It was very windy and the cloud had the cheek to come down and spoil the view. Typical! It took vitrually the same time from both routes. The Corrie route is much shorter but steeper, the Brodick route is definitely easier.
We had lunch down from the summit so our pieces didn't blow away, then we walked down together.
I don't know what this bug is but it's good isn't it?
It was a lovely walk. I like walking on my own, gives me time to really look around and soak it all up.
This is a painting I did of Cir Mhor from another photo taken from the Castles. That's Goat Fell on the left. The police presented it to Wilson last Thursday at his leaving do. He's off to police the big bad mainland. Good luck Wilson.
Arran ExPat wandering the world, residing in Cyprus for now with the odd visit home.
RSS Feed