Chapter 12: Aug 16 - Loch Drum Bhuidhe to Loch Aline
August 16th - Loch Drum Bhuidhe. (Lake of the yellow ridge). It was early morning and an idea was mooted to fetch milk from the lonely farm at the east end of the loch. The outboard was shipped, the Mate assuring us that the tank was adequately full. We set off across the glassy pond. When we ware half a mile away, the Mate hailed us from Pandora waving the milk cans, we returned and collected them and set off again. This time we conked for lack of juice about the middle of the loch. We said "Ca c'est ca" and went west again with the oars. We 'booted' happily till the tinkle of the breakfast bell recalled us to the ship.
Anchor was up at 10.45 and we proceeded round Auliston Point once more into the Sound of Mull. We coasted for a while by the pleasant shores of Morven and then headed for the dark, almost black mountains of Mull in the direction of Aros Castle. On the way a Clyde Puffer treating the rule of the road at sea with nonchalance very nearly rammed us but we took what is called 'evasive' action with our usual conspicuous success. About noon we anchored in calm weather off Aros Lodge and Smab and I called on its most hospitable owner. After lunch I went on a further embassage and found the General and his daughter gathering a dish of peas in their kitchen garden square, most beautifully situated looking over the rocky bay which separated them from the bold and romantic ruin of Aros Castle. The type of weather may be gauged from the fact that the General had involuntarily consumed a midge.
Grimalkin: "Why?"
Cat: "Because I think its very relevant".
Grimalkin: "Pshaw".
We discussed mountains. From the Lodge windows there is a marvellous view of Cruachan nearly thirty miles away. For the nearer heights we consulted the chart and verified that Scuir Dearg was the same as Beinn Varnach, The Limpet. From the west, indeed it looked exactly like one. I was able to introduce Dun da Gu to the General's notice. He agreed that it was a fascinating name and nice to know. It is the highest of the Peaks which overlook the Sound opposite Ardtornish.
This was a very social day. We had been making friends with the beach in Loch Nevis, but here we were entertaining and being entertained by half Mull. We had a great tea party aboard Pandora, and our friends brought us white tea roses, salmon, milk and a blue thistle. The dinghy wallah was busy ferrying the crowds between the yacht and the General's slip, which being sloped at one in three and plentifully garnished with brilliant green moss at low tide required the utmost agility and balance to negotiate with safety. We dipped the ensign to the General who came round to see us off from his lockout and dieselled away against the tide past Green Isle to Loch Aline.