Rubh'a' Mhàil lighthouse lens at Colonsay House

The Chance Brothers of Birmingham made this lens for the Stevenson-built Rubh'a' Mhàil (Ruvaal) lighthouse on Islay in 1874. In 1992 the lighthouse was refitted with a modern replacement lens, and this one was presented to Lord Strathcona of Colonsay. It now sits in the garden of Colonsay House, which we visited this afternoon.

After our visit to the garden we cycled to the Colonsay ferry port to buy our tickets for the next leg of our trip: to Islay for four days. We then followed the same procedure that one would for a flight: we checked in; we looked around the shops in the 'departure lounge' (Mr hazelh bought a geology book about the Tethys Sea); and we had a drink in the bar. My extra shows Mr hazelh 'in' the bar, with his bottle of Colonsay ale, and his newly acquired book. Our 'departure gate' can be seen in the distance across the field.

Over the course of the ferry journey we were very well entertained by another cyclist with whom we had struck up a conversation in the queue for the boat. Amongst his tales was one of his father Rab Richards, who flew from London to Australia in a Gypsy Moth in 1932. There is more about this extraordinary tale in a page from the life story of his father, and there will be even more in a book that our companion is writing on the whole crazy expedition. He also told us a lot about his family and the recent sale of the beautiful family house in Ayrshire.

Our accommodation in Islay is in Bowmore so this necessitated some more cycling over the hills as the sun set on yet another fabulous day on holiday for the hazelhs.

Exercise today: 19 miles of tandem riding.