Ullapool

On Monday, we first organized Jos' trip to the Netherlands for Paul's funeral on Wednesday. We then decided to weather 15-22kn winds on the nose to get to Ullapool as our basis for the next couple of days.
Leaving around 13.00, the ride was a bit rough. Sophie and Ann coped very well, as did Hartendief, but Julia fell seasick. We rested at anchor for a couple of hours at Horse Island where everybody recovered in glorious sun with soup and swim and we then continued our 'roller coaster ride' to Ullapool where we arrived at 20.00.
Ullapool initially was unpleasing because of the howling wind, grey sky and impressive, barren mountains. Also there was no berthing for yachts and we had to take a mooring. With Jos off to the Netherlands and our dinghy too small for Ann to comfortably ferry herself and the kids to and from shore this was a problem. We did have a quiet and peaceful dinner at our mooring though and all slept fine.
Today, Jos dropped the family on shore. Ann sorted things out with the harbourmaster (nice, mainly preoccupied with fishing boats) while Jos tied Hartendief back to its mooring and rowed to the shore. After a family breakfast in a friendly sandwich shop we all went our ways. Ann found a pleasant B&B for the duration of Jos's trip and Jos took a ride from a very friendly Ullapoolian - Ian - to Inverness to catch the plane to Gatwich and then to Amsterdam.
Tomorrow, Ann and the kids will visit the Isle of Lewis. We are looking forward to continuing the trip on Thursday. Luckily, it appears that winds will be more favorable then.