f4f3 | Holiday: Week One

Just waved my son off down the road to Glasgow and points South, so now it's just me,

unblinkered, Merlin and Anna up here. At least two of the three are, um, resting, so I'll take the chance to do a quick update.
The weather has been a bit hit and miss this week - some heavy rain, some overcast, a few bits of sun. But, hell, it's the West of Scotland. We have put off the Island Adventures (Arran, Islay, Mull and possibly Gigha) till next week, partly because of the weather and partly to spend some time with Mikey. We did get off on Tuesday for a cruise on the Paddle Steamer Waverley, which was on its last cruise of the season, and possibly ever, from Tarbet Pier. The pier is in pretty bad shape, and I must admit to shuddering a bit when the Waverley approached it at ramming speed, after the first attempt to dock was called off. Still, all went well, and I got to go below decks and smile at the big engines.
On Wednesday Mikey and I went for a boy's day out, taking his car instead of mine to Oban, Fort William and then back through Glencoe. It was a fun trip, and I managed to get the best scallops ever at the Oban Seafood Shack. Every time I go to this tiny green shed on the Oban pier I'm terrified that it's not going to be as good as it used to be. But this place hasn't jumped the shark - it's line-caught the shark, made it into sushi and put it on sale. Nah, there isn't any shark, but there's all sorts of sea foody goodness. You might have to wait a bit while they're unpacking some boxes from the trawlers moored outside, but it's worth it. The menu just now has prawn and salmon sandwich, fresh and smoked salmon, crab, dressed and naked (or alive) and lots of other goodies. The latest thing seemed to be lobster sandwiches, (I almost bought a live lobster to bring home, though they offered to cook it and crack it for me) but I settled for the scallops - half a dozen, lightly seared, served in garlic butter with brown bread and salad. It set me back £6, and I really can't remember when I've had fresher, plumper, juicier scallops. Ever. This place just aspoils me for eating scallops anywhere else. Hopefully we'll get a chance to eat at the Seafood Temple next week.
Yesterday we had a picnic at Crinan Harbour. The weather stayed good, the Kelly Kettle got another outing, and we made far too much food.
Today unblinkered and I cycled the length of the Crinan Canal, and met up with Mikey for lunch at the tearooms - if he hadn't been there, I think we'd have splurged at the hotel, but as it was we settled for rolls on bacon and great cakes.
We've still got another week to look forward to - time to get the Cal Mac brochure out...