Hebrides Tour - Day 2

Come back Andalusia,  all is forgiven:

Unfortunately half of yesterday's blog went AWOL but it's not worth repeating so I'll start on Day 2.  Last night's accommodation at a former Fisherman's Mission was basic but adequate other than the unwelcome combination of ill fitting curtains and a very close by Belesha Beacon.  I'd  planned to get  the 09:30 ferry to Skye but following the previous evening's cancellation and the forecast gales, the advice  was to take the 07:40 ferry as that had more chance of sailing. 
The crossing was indeed lumpy but only 40 minutes so not 'quite ' long enough to induce any unpleasantness. 

The views from the ferry back to Knoydart and south to the small Isles including the unmistakeable profile of An Sgurr on the island of Egg.

On arrival at Ardvasar on Skye the sun was shining but in the direction I was heading, it didn't look so promising.

The wind was as forecast increasing in strength, mostly it was a welcome  tail wind but occasionally it was an entertaining cross wind.  Approaching Broadford it started to reach that intensity that threatens to blow you into the overtaking traffic.  I stopped in Broadford for some respite and a comforting bacon butty.
The weather by now was how I remember it on Skye, gloomy.  Only I do gloomy better than the Isle of Skye!

I knew there was a steady climb out of Broadford and I suspected the wind would be problematic.  What I didn't  expect was hail, driving rain and a wind that at one point brought me to a grinding halt on a flat section of road.  On the descent towards Slighacan the stinging hail had me squinting with one eye to see the road ahead.
I took refuge in a bus shelter at Slighacan and pondered on the merits of cycle touring in Scotland.

A minor improvement tempted me to move on, only around 8 miles remaining and indeed the rain did abate if not the wind.

I got to the hostel, the Old Inn bunkhouse at 2pm, much earlier than planned due to taking the early morning ferry. The hostel wasn't available until 5pm so I had 3 hours to kill. Now the pub would be the logical choice but fearing being blottoed by the time the hostel opened I choose to ride on along the shore of Loch Harpole to Portnalong.

I took the steep climb up behind the hallowed ground of the Taskisker distillery and continued on into a worsening gale. Just short of Portnalong further progress became almost impossible and again I had to take refuge in a bus shelter.

This is a video of my bus shelter No 2 experience, if I get get blogger to upload it?

The bunkhouse at Carbost is in a great location, scenic yes but also right next to The Old Inn, a favourite hostelry of old.  The haggis, neeps and tatties wrapped in filo pastry with an Isle  of Skye whisky and cream  sauce went down very well particularly as is was washed down by a couple of pints of Red Cuillin.