### A MOTORHOME, A BOAT AND THREE ISLANDS

Once again we took the sunshine up to the Isles of Fleet, specifically the Island of Ardwall, arriving on the shore opposite about 9am. The tide was in, which we had expected, but this time the XYL Kit and I were ready for it having borrowed a Zodiac inflatable for the journey across the stretch of water between the mainland and Ardwall.

Needless to say I had the job of unloading the boat and inflating it by use of a hand pump. I have to admit inflatables have changed somewhat since I owned my first one (ex-RAF) and it was very easy to inflate. The beast came with wheels which lock onto the wooden transom at the stern and this makes it easy to pull it down to the water's edge.

We loaded the gear into the boat and this is where the fun started. Being "Captain" I told the crew (XYL) to get on board, unfortunately as she waded out and was about to board, a large wave came along and filled her wellington boots with water. The result was the XYL getting into the boat and then sitting with her legs up in the air to drain off the water. Not a pretty sight I tell you. Still once the "Captain" was aboard it was a case of man the oars to get offshore far enough to lower the outboard motor into the sea. Needless to say for some reason the motor refused to start and I spent the next 15 minutes using some very salty language trying to bring it to life in between using the oars to keep us in deep enough water.

We rowed back to shore so I could try and sort things out and whilst I did so the XYL went off to change into dry clothes. The next attempt was more successful and the motor fired up and we were off across the water to Ardwall. Only a short but very pleasant trip on a calm sea with blue sky, sunshine and the coastal scenery is beautiful.

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Once we landed it did not take to long to get set up on the Amateur bands and I started off on 20m, then 40m and finally 80m everything really went off very well for us. While I operated, the XYL had a wander around the island in between times lying out on the beach in the sunshine.

We decided that to wait for the tide coming back in would have meant coming back in the boat in the dark and I was not to keen to do that, in case I made a wrong turn in the dark and the next voice heard might have been American. The result was that we carried the equipment back to the mainland then went back for the boat and by that time we were both totally bushed. Still the whole thing went off smoothly other than for the false start.

On the Sunday, 6th, September we set off for the Islands of Islay and Jura in the Motorhome, stopping overnight at Inverary Campsite and the next morning driving down to Kennacraig to catch the CalMac ferry across to Islay. We were fortunate that though it was windy we were able to watch the scenery go by from the deck and enjoyed the 2 hours that it took to get to Islay.

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Once off the Ferry it was just short of thirty miles to the campsite at Kintra on the south west side of the island. Not a lot of facilities, just the basic toilets/showers, but we camped just behind the sand dunes overlooking the beach and the bay. The first night saw the antenna up and I was in business on 80m. Overnight there was a major gale including heavy rain and winds strong enough to rock the motorhome violently making us wonder whether we would still be upright in the morning.

Next mornining saw a change in the wx and we were off touring the island leaving the inverted vee and mast in position. The wind kept up for most of the time we were there and unfortunately it spoiled my hopes of getting onto Texa as the sea was very rough most of the time. The island of Islay is well worth the visit being both beautiful and historical with a superb Museum at Port Charlotte. At the said Museum I saw a Morse lamp in wooden case with its bullseye lens and a small key on top. A number of older commercial radios were also on display and the lamp unit from a lighthouse.

We set off for the island of Jura on the Friday and found by personal experience that the designer of the new ferry between Islay and Jura had got things slightly wrong. Driving the motorhome onto the ferry was not a problem but when it came to getting off at the Jura end, I discovered that the off ramp had not been made long enough, so it was a very steep drive down onto the quay with an immediate sharp rise up the quay. Needless to say the length of the Motorhome made it a little awkward with scraping noises from underneath.

Jura is one of the last wildernesses in Scotland, with 5000 deer, 200 people and narrow tarmac roads with passing places. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, but there are no camp sites on the island which is a great pity, though we were directed to a grass field beside a beach on the Corrin Sands. Looking out across Loch Mile towards the Mull of Kintyre where we were camped, we could see Seals and sea Otters sun bathing and playing around in the sea.

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Having got set up, literally in the shadows of the Paps of Jura, I played a bit of radio before going to bed. Next morning we were lying in bed looking out over what must be one of the best views we have ever seen, absolutely tremendous. I went for a walk down the field where we were camped and it began to niggle me that there was something familiar about the field but it would not come to mind. Getting back to the vehicle the XYL was talking to couple of locals when the 'light' switched on and I said "Is this a grass airfield ?" needless to say the answer was YES, but it is no longer used. Believe me me the next two days I spent wondering if we would get an unexpected visitor.

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We started back for the mainland on the Monday and meandered back down to Dumfries and Galloway where we planned to activate the Island of Heston. Unfortunately things did not work out for us, one of the problems of arranging things from nearly 200 miles away but fortunately Andre GM3VLB and Keith MM0BPP did it the following weekend so I did not feel quite so bad about it.

My thanks to all of you who were kind enough to work me on the islands and I look forward to working you again from the home station or an island.

73'S, Jack G4ZVD and Kit XYL.
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