Stranded!
Posted: Tuesday, 28 August 2007 |
What a weekend! We have just had a houseful of my husband's family as it was the "southern" Bank Holiday - as typical townies they didn't quite "get it" - why we moved here, the scenery and wildlife etc etc but I have to accept we are all different and are motivated by different things. To help my husband out, who was answering a distress call from someone who had water spouting out of their toilet (he's a plumber for his sins!) I said I would take the inlaws back to Glasgow airport - I really like the drive from Oban through the Glens, past Loch Awe and Loch Lomond so it was no trouble for me. We got about 3/4 up Loch Lomond when we stopped - sat in a traffic jam for about an hour - passengers were getting twitchy about missing their flight - I was internally stressing about getting back to Oban in time to catch the last ferry back to Mull - when we got to the front of the jam a log lorry had gone too wide round a corner and had slid off - added to that there were temporary traffic lights - all in all - chaos! We got going again and dropped off (and I mean threw them out of the car at the airport drop off point!) at 15.00- bearing in mind I had to be in Oban by 17.30 the latest for the last ferry it was going to tight! We had passed lots of police vehicles so I assumed the chaos would be cleared for my return journey - oh how wrong I was! Hit the chaos again at Loch Lomond and just sat and watched as the police reloaded all the logs onto a new lorry, then pulled the lorry out of the side of the road, - we finally got going only to be stuck behind a coach for miles! I had 2 battery pips on my mobile and of course, no charger with me so husband new what was happening. I made it to Oban at 19.00 and then it hit me! I'm stranded - there is no way home until the morning. Should I sleep in the car or try and find somewhere - I had absolutely nothing with me except my handbag of course. The ferry office was closed of course so no help there. I found a hotel nearby, fortunately the Co-op was still open so I could purchase some vital bits that one needs. I was first at the ferry terminal this morning and they promised they would get me on the first boat out - the Calmac staff were incredibly helpful - they do get some stick at time but they were great and I arrived back on Mull at 08.30 this morning just in time to take my daughter to school! I am surprised at how calm I was thoughout this episode which I have put down to being de-stressed living on Mull. In future, when we go off Island, we shall have an "emergency bag" in the boot of the car - I'm sure this wont be the last time it happens.
Anyway, some pics of our beautiful island now I have adjusted the camera.
Anyway, some pics of our beautiful island now I have adjusted the camera.
Comments
okay you lot out on the isles I mean ALL OF YOU!! STOP sending in all these lovely photos i haven't back to scotland since 1994 and seeing all that beautiful scenery is making greet!
carol from feeling very very homesick
Wow, what an adventure. I'm glad you got home alright in the end. I can completely understand why you chose to move - if we didn't have family commitments here, and we could get jobs, we'd be there like a shot. The Calmac folk are, in my experience, pleasant and helpful (if I had the space, I'd tell a tale about how they treated a man who tried to jump the queue at Craignure). As an island resident, you were looked on kindly, I'm sure. Were you just behind the Co-op lorry? Every time I drive onto the ferry, there's a Co-op lorry in front of me, or so it seems. Keep posting the pics, they're lovely. Iz
Mrs Trellis from N E Wales
What great pictures!! Love the moos hehehe
Michelle Therese from Things Go Moo in the Night...
I wasn't far behind the Co-op lorry,- I know what you mean - considering there is only one Co-op on the Island you always see the lorry! I can never get over how blue it is up here - those photos are with my little "Noddy" camera - just point and click and that's what comes out and the sky and sea are really that blue - of course, it always rains in Scotland!
wildfreckle from Mull
I wonder if that Co-op lorry is one of ours gone astray?
Flying Cat from chronically empty shelves
Glad to hear you got home okay. Calmac once put on a ferry to get me home after a three hour delay following fatal accident and frantic about seriously frail relatives (ok, it helped others out too!). To this day, cannot quite believe I heard the words "When would (my name) like the ferry?" I'm eternally grateful to the staff and ferry crew that made this happen. Has anyone else noticed that in space of three years a two hour drive to the Erskine Bridge seems to now take nearer three?
Seonag from Mull
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