Friday 14/07/06

Sunny start to the day, but with some high-level cloud about. The two guests, mother and 17-year old daughter, head off by car to Uig, to see beaches. The campers in mrs B's backyard left for Harris on the 10 am bus. A small flotilla of boats can be seen heading south out of the harbour. A mock seabattle will take place off Cromor this afternoon. Lunch consists of rolls with cheese, ham, salad and coleslaw. I head out for a longish walk, through the Castle Grounds to the Creed Bridge Gate, situated near the turn-off for Arnish on the Lochs Road. In the town, I happen across Norwegian folk dancers in the Town Hall. The immediate area around the Festival Tent is fenced off, but you can carry on to Cuddy Point. Carry on to the Lochs Road, then walk down the anglers' path along the River Creed. This is lined with warning notices about the state of the riverbank and the dangers of casting near powerlines. The path is a dead end, and after retracing my steps, I decide to cross the moor north towards Marybank, starting at 4.15. I use the transmitters above the Marybank quarry as my reference point. The moor is its usual wet self, but the walk is very doable. It's the barbed-wire fences that present the greatest difficulty. I finally come out on the Pentland Road, on the western end of Marybank, at 5.05 pm. From there, I walk through the village, then to Stornoway through the Castle Grounds. Tonight's band is tuning up in the festival tent, huge noise. On my return to Newton, I drink about a pint and a half of lemonade. The meal is cooked for us tonight. It's a brilliantly sunny day, with temps of about 18 C / 64 F. The wind is cool near the sea, but provides a welcome cooling inland, and it also keeps the midges down. They would have been hellish in the moor. Come across an incomprehensible piece of street theatre in Francis Street - a guy stabbing himself in the stomach with a burning torch? Jayz, I've seen it all now. Ferry is late coming in, at 6.50, and even later leaving, at 7.30. Dinner consists of a piece of meat in mustard sauce, with some tomato and onion rings. Ice cream after. Fierce discussions rage over supper. The young lady is not allowed to go to one of the concerts, although she is offered a chaperone; her mum wants her to go to the pub with her.