Calum's Road

A fairly cloudy day, and some light showers from time to time.  

Up early, and some drama when I had my morning cigarette.  The couple next door had fallen out, caravaning isn't for everyone.  We headed out to the Isle of Raasay for the day, to meet peerie Brian's old friends and neighbours, Stuart and daughter Rona.  After a cuppa, Rona took us to the new whisky distillery, and then to the walled garden she works in.  Stuart made us lunch, on return.  We later went north to the castle ruins, saw a sea eagle, and a pint in the hotel before catching the ferry back.  A beautiful island, and another ticked off the list.  More campsite drama this evening, this time the lack of washing machines.  I finally got mine washed and dried, but had to keep calm, and forceful, or they would have torn shreds off me.  

A great story on the isle, the story of Calum MacLeod (1911-1988), and his road.  After getting refusal to get the council to build a road, he picked up an engineering book, a pick, a shovel and a wheelbarrow and built his own road.  Starting in the mid 1960s, it took him ten years, with the occasional volunteers.  The road was to help his daughter return home more easily, and to help save his community from depopulation.  He didn't have a driving licence, so would only drive to the end of his road, which was 1¾ miles.  The road was finally tarred in 1982.  A lot of hard work, especially when he had a croft to run, and also work in the Rona lighthouse, and a postman.  The road has some steep cliff passes, some hairpin bends, and sadly in a poor condition, potholes are a theme.  This is the start of his road, at Brochel, Isle of Raasay.  Featured extras, a road shot and his home, at the end of the road, Arnish.