148. Cruising to Inverie

148. Cruising to Inverie

149. Cruising to the Isle of Rum and Kinloch Castle

149. Cruising to the Isle of Rum and Kinloch Castle

Inner Hebrides, Scotland

150. At Sea and Heading to Inverie, early morning clouds make for a striking sky with the distant mountains outlined against the sky.

150. At Sea and Heading to Inverie, early morning clouds make for a striking sky with the distant mountains outlined against the sky.

151. First Morning Light in the Hebrides, coming up over Vatersay.

151. First Morning Light in the Hebrides, coming up over Vatersay.

Caolas Bhatarsaig, Straits between Vatersay and the Isle of Barra

152. With a dawn departure, we sailed south to pass under the Isle of Skye Bridge.

152. With a dawn departure, we sailed south to pass under the Isle of Skye Bridge.

Loch Alsh, Scotland

153. As we approached and passed under the Skye Bridge, the Kyleakin Lighthouse was visible.

153. As we approached and passed under the Skye Bridge, the Kyleakin Lighthouse was visible.

The full expanse of Skye Bridge connects the mainland to  the island of Eilean Ban and then to Skye.  The bridge was opened in 1996 and carried a hefty toll which became a point of controversy and protest.  In 2004, the Scottish government bought the commercial enterprise and abolished the toll.

154. Passing under Skye Bridge under heavy, but handsome clouds.

154. Passing under Skye Bridge under heavy, but handsome clouds.

Skye Bridge, Scotland

155. Better weather is promised as the clouds begin to break up and lighten with the sun.

155. Better weather is promised as the clouds begin to break up and lighten with the sun.

Skye Bridge, Scotland

156. As the ship moved away from the bridge, the cloud cover was breaking up.

156. As the ship moved away from the bridge, the cloud cover was breaking up.

Skye Bridge, Scotland

157. Looking down the wake of the Hebridean Princess to the now distant bridge.

157. Looking down the wake of the Hebridean Princess to the now distant bridge.

158. Heading towards Inverie, the skies on one side of the ship were bright and full of cottony puffs of clouds.

158. Heading towards Inverie, the skies on one side of the ship were bright and full of cottony puffs of clouds.

159. On the other side, taken only minutes later, heavy clouds hung around the peaks.

159. On the other side, taken only minutes later, heavy clouds hung around the peaks.

160. And again, looking at clearing skies.

160. And again, looking at clearing skies.

161. Right next to the clearing skies were heavy clouds, reluctant to give way to a pretty day.

161. Right next to the clearing skies were heavy clouds, reluctant to give way to a pretty day.

162. Further on and a little later in the morning, the horizon becomes clearer.

162. Further on and a little later in the morning, the horizon becomes clearer.

Kyle Rhea, Scotland

163. Fantastical cloud formations would appear and disperse.

163. Fantastical cloud formations would appear and disperse.

164. With heavy clouds still dominating the east or mainland side of Kyle Rhea, we pass Loch Huron.

164. With heavy clouds still dominating the east or mainland side of Kyle Rhea, we pass Loch Huron.

165. Clouds clustering around the higher geographic points.

165. Clouds clustering around the higher geographic points.

166. Looking west to the mountains over coastal villages that line up along Kyle Rhea as it flows into the Sound of Sleat

166. Looking west to the mountains over coastal villages that line up along Kyle Rhea as it flows into the Sound of Sleat

167. The rugged terrain of the Highlands and the Hebrides provides an allure that transcends time and makes me think of other wild places like Patagonia and the Southern Alps in New Zealand.

167. The rugged terrain of the Highlands and the Hebrides provides an allure that transcends time and makes me think of other wild places like Patagonia and the Southern Alps in New Zealand.

168. The blown-about clouds reshape, merge, gain water and lose water creating skies of delight.

168. The blown-about clouds reshape, merge, gain water and lose water creating skies of delight.

169. As we get closer to our next stop of Inverie, the isles become less mountainous, but no less rugged.

169. As we get closer to our next stop of Inverie, the isles become less mountainous, but no less rugged.

170. An Sgurr on the Isle of Eigg is a sheer spine of rock columns formed by cooling lava.

170. An Sgurr on the Isle of Eigg is a sheer spine of rock columns formed by cooling lava.

Isle of Eigg, Scotland

171. The tumult of rocks, cliffs, sky and clouds with distant isles and mountains form a sumptuous panorama that made me regret that this was out last full day on board.

171. The tumult of rocks, cliffs, sky and clouds with distant isles and mountains form a sumptuous panorama that made me regret that this was out last full day on board.

172. The stack of dark clouds as we pass the small gentle landscapes of the Isle of Muck heading to Tobermory in Mull.

172. The stack of dark clouds as we pass the small gentle landscapes of the Isle of Muck heading to Tobermory in Mull.

Note the flock of birds in the foreground, bobbing on the smooth sea.

173. A photo taken in 2015 that could almost have been taken five or even ten decades earlier where sailors test their skills against the wind and rain as we left the village of Plockton.

173. A photo taken in 2015 that could almost have been taken five or even ten decades earlier where sailors test their skills against the wind and rain as we left the village of Plockton.

Loch Carron, Scotland

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148. Cruising to Inverie
149. Cruising to the Isle of Rum and Kinloch Castle
150. At Sea and Heading to Inverie, early morning clouds make for a striking sky with the distant mountains outlined against the sky.
151. First Morning Light in the Hebrides, coming up over Vatersay.
152. With a dawn departure, we sailed south to pass under the Isle of Skye Bridge.
153. As we approached and passed under the Skye Bridge, the Kyleakin Lighthouse was visible.
154. Passing under Skye Bridge under heavy, but handsome clouds.
155. Better weather is promised as the clouds begin to break up and lighten with the sun.
156. As the ship moved away from the bridge, the cloud cover was breaking up.
157. Looking down the wake of the Hebridean Princess to the now distant bridge.
158. Heading towards Inverie, the skies on one side of the ship were bright and full of cottony puffs of clouds.
159. On the other side, taken only minutes later, heavy clouds hung around the peaks.
160. And again, looking at clearing skies.
161. Right next to the clearing skies were heavy clouds, reluctant to give way to a pretty day.
162. Further on and a little later in the morning, the horizon becomes clearer.
163. Fantastical cloud formations would appear and disperse.
164. With heavy clouds still dominating the east or mainland side of Kyle Rhea, we pass Loch Huron.
165. Clouds clustering around the higher geographic points.
166. Looking west to the mountains over coastal villages that line up along Kyle Rhea as it flows into the Sound of Sleat
167. The rugged terrain of the Highlands and the Hebrides provides an allure that transcends time and makes me think of other wild places like Patagonia and the Southern Alps in New Zealand.
168. The blown-about clouds reshape, merge, gain water and lose water creating skies of delight.
169. As we get closer to our next stop of Inverie, the isles become less mountainous, but no less rugged.
170. An Sgurr on the Isle of Eigg is a sheer spine of rock columns formed by cooling lava.
171. The tumult of rocks, cliffs, sky and clouds with distant isles and mountains form a sumptuous panorama that made me regret that this was out last full day on board.
172. The stack of dark clouds as we pass the small gentle landscapes of the Isle of Muck heading to Tobermory in Mull.
173. A photo taken in 2015 that could almost have been taken five or even ten decades earlier where sailors test their skills against the wind and rain as we left the village of Plockton.