McCaig's Tower

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What a hoot of a day!

Our friends Keith and Mairi arrived in time for lunch, soup and sandwiches courtesy of M&S.   They were gobsmacked by views from the windows as they walked in.  Showed them to their bedroom with its floor to ceiling glass windows looking right on to the water and towards Oban Bay.  Beautiful view in the ever changing weather.  It literally changes every few minutes!  Sunshine, blue skies, grey cloud, torrential rain, blue skies seems to be the pattern.

After lunch we ventured out.  First stop Pulpit Hill, the scene of Keith's marriage proposal to Mairi 31 years ago (they celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary later this year) The sun was shining as we drove up but of course as soon as we got out the car, the wind picked up, the sky darkened and the rain fell.  

We stayed long enough to grab some photos (I forgot my camera so phone had to suffice) Keith and Mairi declined to re-enact the marriage proposal :-))

Back in the car and off to Ganavan sands.  Keith had a summer job washing dishes in a restaurant in Oban when he was 17 and 18.  He showed us a photo he took of himself with his old SLR camera back then on the grass verges near the sands with the self timer on, and as he rushed back to get into position he lost his balance and fell backwards, arms and legs splayed in fright, which the camera caught beautifully.  Sadly again he declined to recreate the scene :D

It was certainly bracing beside the water and we lasted long enough to take the obligatory selfie group shot and a few others, before we piled back into the car and headed to my main blip, McCaig's Tower.  Quite a place and stunning views.

Back down and back to the holiday house for a cuppa to warm us up again.

Soon it was time to head out for dinner to Ee-Usk, a fabulous seafood restaurant situated just feet from the sea, on Oban's North Pier.  Once settled at our table the difficult decision of choosing what to eat began.  Oh my heavens, the choice!  We all changed our minds about five times!  In the end I settled for smoked trout served with granary bread, salad and marie rose dip to start, with sea bass fillets served with creamed leeks and spring onion mashed potato.  Absolute heaven!  The others were equally delighted with their choices.  We all agreed this evening featured in our top 5 meals out!  And the service was exceptional too.

I managed a scoop of the most amazing vanilla ice cream for dessert but David chose cheese.  Imagine my surprise (and delight) when turning to the cheese menu, I discovered the restaurant sources their cheeses from a Glasgow based cheesemonger who happens to be a distant cousin of mine and we grew up together in the same village :-)

It was so lovely sitting in the restaurant right beside the fishing boats,  As the daylight turned to night the boats and the pier looked lovely all lit up as well as the view back into Oban.  And not long before we left, David's true identity was revealed...Simon Templar!  hahahahahahahaha! (see extras.  Those of a certain age will know what I am on about! :-)

Back at the holiday house in time for a night cap and blether about what a great day we'd had.  

Extras include a sign in our bedroom that made me laugh, us at Ganavan sands, Pulpit Hill, McCaig's tower, my delicious smoked trout (I was too keen to eat my sea bass to take any pics:-) and The Saint :D