Jonathan: I’m writing this using the free WiFi hotspot at Calmac ferry terminal. After a really good night’s sleep and a leisurely good breakfast, I repacked all my stuff and got out onto the streets.  Cold but still and thankfully dry: in fact the sun is shining. Bought my ticket and then looked out for things to amuse me until the ferry at 1500hrs.  Ferry to Lismore going soon, but wouldn’t get back in time (unless I just went for a there-and-back).  How about Kerrera?  I cycled down that really beautiful lane to Gallanach, but the ferry had just gone, and the next wouldn’t be until 1230. So not this time. I cycled on southward down to the far end of the road, where the private road starts. This turned out be a real delight, with a wonderful winding lane, spectacular cliffs and woods and views across the sea and islands. I stopped to talk to an otter which was playing around on the rocks and in the water just below me at one point: rather than dive under the surface and disappear, it just watched me, then seemed to lie back the water and play with its tail for a bit, then watch me a bit more or listen to me talking to it!  There were also robins, eider ducks, herons and other creatures I couldn’t recognize.  There were larger diving creatures too – humans going out in boats with their diving gear, setting off from the Puffin diving centre. A really beautiful length of road, this, though in the morning it is in the shadow of the high cliffs.

I do have such good feelings about Oban: if I’m spending any time here it’s because I’m waiting for a ferry to go home, and as it happens don’t think I’ve ever been here and the sun not be shining! Anyway, it’s now almost 12 noon, and I shall find something to eat for lunch. With the weather so nice I shall cycle in the other direction towards Dunollie Castle, and then no doubt it will be time to join the queue for the ferry.