Islay Trip Day Three

Back Blipped 23rd July 2017

Not every photo is "picture perfect", and the only truism in the camera world is that you'll always have the wrong lens on, when a photo opportunity arises. But it's all a part of the unfolding story. This was taken with the ridiculously heavy and expensive 11-24mm F4 at its widest settings, and (for a landscape orientated lens) from a distance of less than a foot. Distortion is inevitable.

This fellow was on the beach at the high water end of a retreating tide, and on a sunny morning, as we walked out in preparation for our first distillery visit. Still alive but fading fast, how could we not take pity on it? After the inevitable photograph, we tried moving him closer to the waterline, but life was faint and movement plainly difficult. In the end Greg tossed him out into the waves - he either recovered or became fish food.

The day was marvellous, as have been all the days of this trip, and the Lagavulin tasting was more informative than I was expecting, but definitely as delicious. We also got a lift back to the village by our tasting guide - which was nice since the walk out was long and the walk back fuelled by about four large and cask strength whiskies.

I'll just casually mention that dowsing is a skill one must work at, and that generally I'm not overly good at it. But in a wide and long beach, I have now successfully dowsed spectacles. For which Greg was very thankful.

At about this stage the long walks are barely burning off the calories of (superb) fully cooked breakfast, large lunch and (ahem) restaurant dinner. And I gather whisky has them too. Calories, that is. I fear on our return I may have to suck it in a bit.

(Greg's Day Three)