Day 29- Thursday 16th June- Ardfern

This was a day for getting my land legs back. Tony suggested the hull of Hylje could do with a clean. She never came out of the water during the winter and so has that cruddy brown staining around the water line that looks like the inside of a tea cup before it's washed up.Actually it looks like the regular appearance of the inside of my cup on the boat I have to confess. I think he was gently saying she was lowering the tone. As I'd coiled my ropes for the first time ever, before I came in I thought I'd done enough.However he gave me some spray on stuff and soon she was looking very clean.Princess Anne's boat is based here and now Hylje would not look out of place beside her.

The house backs onto a very overgrown garden and the woodland growth almost touch the back wall. It means there are loads of birds feeding on the nuts and the occasional mouse.

Fergus seemed to be fascinated by my digital camera, which has given us the unusual opportunity to see what it is like to look at life through a 3 year old's eyes.

Arfern is a small but friendly community. There is a pub, a shop and a cafe(crafty kitchen).There is a sheep that lives on a veranda, but i haven't got a photo yet. We had lunch in the cafe, and with a menu which included venison burgers, its quite a cut above the average. Its also got a little wicker statue outside.

The village hall is also a cut above the average and seems able to attract some biggish bands. Salsa Celtica have played Glastonbury, and the  first time they came here they thought it was a hicksville, but enjoyed it so much they wanted to come back. The place was packed and it didn't take long to get everyone up and bopping. Salsa and Celtic music do not seem to be obvious styles to bring together, but it sort of works, though I think its more of a mixture than a blend.There seems to generally be a change of pace between the Celtic and mostly Scottish reel music they play and the slower salsa, but it was good.

We were able to meet the mysterious couple who had moved into next door. The house had been empty for ages and loads of people would have liked to rent, it but it didn't seem to be available and suddenly there was a young couple living there He would often be seem swimming in the loch wearing a pink hat, which made him look like a drifting buoy. It turns out he (John) is the son of the owner and is training for a quadrathlon.He works in Edinburgh 2 days a week. Fiona his wife organises medical support for various endurance events and is rumoured to be the real athlete of the two. So mystery cracked and house will continue to be unavailable.

I also bumped into the sailor (Kit) who I had met in Bangor who was doing the round Britain thing in his summer holidays. he was now contemplating extending the tour to take him to Norway. I wonder how many summer holidays that is going to take.

The forecast for tomorrow is lousy. i reckon its going to be another day in Ardfern.