After the sun started coming out, I laid there longer hoping it would warm my tent, and it did to some degree, enough to sleep for an hour or so. Eventually I needed to get up and move on. I was pretty tired and didn't want to walk back to Oban so I took a train.
The next train left around 11 and it was 9 when I had gotten to the station. I decided to wait until 10 when a local tea place opened to treat myself to a good breakfast and a morale boost.
Taynuilt station sign
Tea and coffee shop
Breakfast and tea. Smoked sausage and mature cheddar... It was really good.
I eventually got back to Oban and decided to buy a ferry ticket to the islands because I was tired and didn't want to walk at the moment. I got a ticket, but the next ferry was at 4:00. That means I had about 4 hours to kill so I took a nap in the lobby... After an hour, I decided its a nice day and it would be a waste to stay and nap so I went into town to see what I could find.
Oban port. Good thing I didn't stay in
I arrived at the Oban library and asked the librarian at the desk of any good places I could go to spend my time until I need to get on the ferry. She advised the Dunollie Castle or McCaigs tower. The tower was the closest and other could see it from the city so that was where I went.
Had to climb up the hill through the neighborhood to reach it.
Neat tree
Looking down the road
Sign to the tower
McCaigs tower
Path to garden
Preschool on a field day
From inside
Views from ledge of Oban
I sat up here watching the kids play until I needed to leave. They played all sorts of games, it was fun to watch them. My favorite was them pulling a plastic bag on a string trying to make it float. I have a video but it'll take too long to upload.
I eventually caught the ferry and went on my way to the Isle of Mull. On the way I met an older couple who was on holiday driving an RV around Scotland. They are from England and just love the views. We got talking and in the end they offered me to join them on their drive around Mull. I needed to go to Iona, another island, but told them I would call them when I get back to Mull. We exchanged numbers and went our separate ways. I got a bus to Fionnphort where there is a smaller ferry taking people to Iona.
From Craignure to Fionnphort on Mull
Normally green and lush during the summer, it's yellow because it's still coming out of the winter season.
Fionnphort port
After a short ferry ride I got to Iona. It was cold and the memory of camping in the cold led me to stay at the only hostel on Iona.
Iona near the port
Looking across to the Isle of Mull
Iona is known for this Abbey or church. More on it later
This was next to it.
It was half a mile walk from the port to the hostel? The sun started setting just peaking through the overcast on the horizon.
Dramatic grazing sheep
I got to the hostel located right near the beach on the north of the island.
I roomed with an Italian couple living in Glasgow.
I got settled and went to the lounging room and got dinner ready. Porridge again. I met quite a few people. There was a family, a grandmother, aunt and niece traveling for fun, a younger couple and another of middle age, two people volunteering at the hostel, and a woman on vacation. I talked to them all and got along with everyone well. The younger couple, Uist and Heather, offered me to visit them in Dundee on the way from Glasgow to Edinburgh. They just made a 7 day trip on foot from Dundee all the way to Oban... They actually took the same ferry and bus I did but didn't notice them until I got on the smaller ferry to Iona. The middle aged couple, David and Heather, also offered me to stay and visit them in a place near Edinburgh called Melrose, the woman, Susan, offered as well in her town Garstang near Lancaster, South of Edinburgh.
So, in one night at the hostel, I met many friends and have a route planned for my trip. I went to bed exhausted.
So many nice people :)
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