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Islay 2005

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6th - 12th July 2005 Heather & Joe's Wedding

Logisticly, this was by far the most challenging expedition undertaken so far. There and back was
a 1,125 mile round trip. The Pictures say most of it, hover over them and the comments will fill
in any non graphical gaps. Heather's comments are available on this PDF!  Email From Mrs W

Click on any image to see the bigger picture if you dare!

Wednesday 6th July - Departing from Kent in the late afternoon to travel over night.

Dr Jon the co-driver, ready for duty. All looking good before we discover the terrible truth. It appears that a screw has been run through the near side cluster cable during last minute preparations. Oops!

Thursday 7th July - Completing the 24 hour journey and settling in.

First morning break when we remember to take a photo. Near our most northerly point in the journey near Glen Lochy. Making good time, we stop on Loch Fyne near Inverneill. View looking toward Auchalick Bay and beyond. View back to Castleton. Loz has a go at sailing a rock. Strange... I had no recollection of Doc taking photos. Back up toward the baggage train. Carol beats me up the bank. ... but not all the way to the top. This was the last picture taken before we fell fould of the ferry company at Kennacraig. Having made the crossing with all of our diesel, Doc has to lighten the load. And this is our first view of our private beach where we will be staying. Like all good part time soldiers, camp set and all in time for tea. By this time, we have taken over the Pub in Portnahaven. This must have been before we started on the whisky. Ben and Jessica (AKA Becky) join at the hip for the rest of our stay. Still in the Pub I'd guess. This may remind you of the time you didn't shut the front door when you got home!

Friday 8th July - Setting up the equipment and then a cocktail party at the camp site.

View of our camp site on the morning of the first day. The hall, as we empty the trailer at Portnahaven. The serious humping and dumping begins. Carol helping pitch a stand. You never believe Doc knows what he's doing. Small bits 'n' pieces going up. The girls do the heavy stuff. DJ Ben... not! Plenty of time to discuss the operation. Command task. How to reach the roof with any means available. Health and safety is no substitute for common sense. Ben still spends a lot of time in the trees. Cocktail party after the rigging. Doc keeps falling off the chair so it has been taken away. The cocktail bar in Chateau Albert. (not just a van) It's not always wise to let a chemist run the bar. Ok, so some of these drinks havn't been invented yet. The kelp appears to have endothermic properties.

Monday Saturday 9th July - Day of the wedding

Early(ish) on the morning of the wedding. Becky was the first in. First picture of Mr and Mrs W. The sisters. Prepairing for the shower... ... of confetti. Quick everyone, off to the hall. I'm sure this picture will end up on a postcard. You guessed, first back to the hall, table nearest the bar. Ben is not known for waisting time. Becky / Jessica is always happy, if not, merry. Ben relinquishes his drink for a moment. Carol looks on with intreague. Time for some serious bubble engineering. Next up. The chemical compound known as wine... ... becomes part of the buble structure. Another long standing bubble expert. Bubbles were involantry by this time. Just not nice relly. A touch more realistic. Quick speech. Main speech. First dance time. Becky (allways happy) and charges join in. Another rare picture of the couple as the evening progresses. First class entertainment in the form of a sword dance. Doc and Loz give it laldie. More traditional entertainment.

Monday Sunday 10th July - The day after, clearing up and then a contination of the day before!

By this time, we have struck the equipment and then continued from where we left off the noght before. Even in the two handed drinking club, an extra hand doesn't help. Writing the entry in the captains log - the wedding diary - About this time, the mist clears away and the sunshine is enjoyed as well. Loz takes a call and Ben takes a crew picture. Doc relives some of the best moments in his life. It turns out to be a very relaxing afternoon. Not really in charge by this time. Good to have young Suzi join us at our best. As the shadows lenghten... ... we discover that we're in trouble. 10-14t.jpg (50909 bytes) Loz finishes the call and Carol finishes the wine. Back at the camp site in the evening sun. Looking back toward the beach. The light house. Contribution from Loz's art collection. Superb action shot. More from Loz's art collection. View from the the brow of the hill up from the camp site. As before, further round to the right. The empty beach. By this time the water has warmed up a degree or two. ... or maybe it was less noticable. This was posed, really it was! Getting more serious about the prospect of going in. So we all go in. Even Ben. Now you can tell how cold it really was. In the sun it was warm... ... especially after coming out of the water. Curry house in Bowmore. Sorry Doc, couldn't help it. Joined at the hip as ever. Judging bt the clock, we've been going a while. Not many get to escape the camera. Far to composed. We're all a bit fuzzy around the edges by this time. The long shot. Oh yes, and Suzi and Stuart at the far end. Stopping around Bridgened and looking back toward Port Charlotte. These pictures were taken arround midnight. 10-61t.jpg (24061 bytes) Ben and Becky (always happy) take tea to keep warm for a while.

Monday 11th July - The day we leave to return to Hadlow

The morning of the day of departure. Every one up for breakfast. From behind the camp site. Last few moments of relaxation. Final view of the camp site before it's struck. Loz showing off her self-inflating matress in the sun. Last to be allowed on the ferry. Our reputation proceeded us. Traveling back on the ferry, hardly a cloud in sight. Dead flat calm with some fluffy little clouds in the distance.

Tuesday 12th July - All having done, tea all round while the accounts are settled before the team is dismissed.

At Ashley house in Hadlow. Final cup of tea for everyone while we all square up.

 
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Last modified: November 10, 2006