Just another day in Puffin Paradise
We were descending the steep, muddy path down a rocky cliff. The weather is dim and rainy, and our crew is in significant jepoardy of falling, and possibly worse.
6 hours earlier: (I know, I hate that dramatic device too, but so many TV shows use it)
We woke up in our beautiful lodging to the sound of pelting rain. I got ready quickly, because I was the breakfast chef again. Once I was dressed, I cooked the eggs and bacon, while Rosanna toasted the bread.
We sat down to eat, and Carrie was trying to call the boat tour people to find out if the tour was still on. I think she would have been happy to reschedule, due to the blustery weather. We were unable to correctly dial the number at that time, so we finished and loaded up.
We drove back through the cow path to Tobermory. As we got closer, she was able to complete the call, and they told her that the “Seas are calm, bring a jacket”. We found parking, and waited to load the boat.
Once aboard, we cruised first to Puffin Paradise. This island has an immense colony of puffins, who are happy to have people around, because that means that the larger predatory birds stay away, so they feel safe enough to waddle around and pose for pictures. To get there, we had to leave our boat, through the other boat, to a pontoon dock that wobbled around, and really made you feel like you were going overboard.
Once ashore, we navigated slippery lava boulders, and a path of smaller rocks, that were still very unstable. We did not make it off of the lava rocks without both Walt and Rosanna taking little spills, though they powered on.
After the rocks, we had a brief respite of nice grass path, before the treacherous, muddy, cliff path ascent. As we started up the path, Carrie had both her feet slip under her, and she face planted on the muddy path. Luckily, she was escorting Pat, and Pat stayed on 2 feet.
We slowly, precariously, made our way up to Puffin Paradise. Once atop the cliff, we took loads of photos of the awesome Puffins. It was still raining, and we were getting wetter and wetter. Once our time was expiring, we decided to head back down the cliff, since we needed extra time.
We started down the path. We were in a similar train as you might see on a preschool field trip, only lacking the guide ropes. We all held hands, and led the way down. Slowly, surely, we descended. The outcome, never certain, but we did end up making it all the way down to the rocky beach, then back on the pontoon dock, and then to our ship.
We saw whales and dolphins, and got some more photos, but we were all cold and wet, and ready to call it a day.
Once we finally made it back to shore, we loaded up, drove to the grocery store, and bought some soup and stuff for dinner. None of us felt like sitting in a restaurant, wet and muddy.
Back at home we showered, got in dry clothes, and had a nice warm dinner. Photos were picked, and words were typed. It is still raining, and I am glad we don’t have an early morning. Good Night
