August 14 - Tobermory, the Isle of Mull

The weather gods have continued to smile on us here on the good ship Seabourn Sojourn.  While it’s cloudy, we’ve had no rain, no wind and the temperature is a pleasant 68°.  We’re anchored in the bay off Tobermory, the principal town of this island which is one of the Scottish Inner Hebrides islands.  I didn’t join a tour today; instead I took the tender ashore and walked through the little picturesque town.

First I must tell you about a local legend about the place. The story goes that a Spanish galleon, part of the Spanish Armada in 1588, was fleeing the English navy and like many of the ships in the armada encountered a big storm and was blown far off course. She was blown north of Scotland and then down along its west coast. The ship sought refuge and provisions in the bay of Tobermory when the storm abated.  Then as the legend goes when there was a dispute over payment, a local witch cast a spell on the ship.  As legend has it the Spanish ship caught fire, the gunpowder magazine exploded and the ship sank. According to the story in her hold she carried £ 300,000  in gold bullion.  Several unsuccessful attempts have been made  to find the lost legendary gold. A few old cannon have been found.  It’s a nice story though, isn’t it?

The little town is very picturesque with the houses along the waterfront painted lots of different colors.  I was told in the coffee shop I stopped in for a cup of hot chocolate that the town had just been spiffed up because a British TV company was filming some TV series episodes here.  I’d never heard of the series; I’ll have to look for it.  There were a surprising number of tourists here.  There were even a couple of bus tours that had come over on a ferry from the mainland.  The place was actually quite charming.   I initially wasn’t going to go ashore but I’m glad I did.  

This was taken from the tender dock but I wanted to show the variety of colors on the houses.

A colorful Post Office

It's Scotland so there has to be a distillery.

I like all the chimney pots on the roofs.

The café and bakery where I had a luscious cup of hot chocolate. (I confess I also had a piece of chocolate cake.)

As I said it’s a cloudy day and there were misty clouds hanging over the island which gave it a little mysterious air.  I could believe there was a witch somewhere there who could cast spells if someone displeased her.  What can I say, I’m a sucker for fairy tales.  I was born in the hometown of the Brothers Grimm.

This is the Sojourn way out in the bay.

I'm not sure I'd sail on this one.  She's The Flying Dutchman and she might never return.

That’s it for now.  Tomorrow we make our last stop in the UK.