News on Covid and Access Issues

[cpedw]

Tobermory Harbourinformation.
Briefly (subject to change!):
Book in before arrival.
Limited pontoon space and few moorings.
Pay online. No showers or toilets till 15/7.
Some shops are open but the Mishnish is closed for now but McGochans beer garden seems to have risen from the ashes.

Derek

[stevepick]

I am trying to get my head around the statements on the Rum, Eigg and Canna websites. The Rum one comes across as rather thuggish, and aggressive. The three islands are "closed", no travel permitted by Calmac ( quite how this has been arranged I am not sure ) many of the other Calmac island services are now running under Covid setup.

It appears the islanders have decided no-one is welcome, and their decision is enough to bar any legal access. The arguments and references to guidance in the website "welcome" statements make no sense to me. They refer to their small size and remoteness and their elderly and shielding residents, well there are small, remote places all over the highlands with elderly & shielding residents, what makes Eigg,Rum and Canna special in that regard?
The Scottish government has stated we are now free to travel, I assumed that, as long as social distancing and hygiene protocols are followed, that means we can travel anywhere, except apparently the islands of Canna, Eigg and Rum. It is perfectly possible to visit the above islands for a walk without meeting, or even seeing any resident. It is certainly possible to visit the islands and maintain social distancing easily. The decisions to ban landing appear based on fear, paranoia or mis-interpretation of the issues involved around covid transmission. Landowners telling me I am not welcome, bring back unhappy memories of access issues in the previous century when landowners would make it clear that an innocent walk on a munro was , in their view, not permitted. The statement on the Rum website (esp points 1 &2 ):

As of Friday 3rd July 2020, visitor facilities in Kinloch Village remain closed to visitors as we have residents who are vulnerable and others who are shielding.

This means:

1. There will be no day trippers other than pre-arranged contractors until we, the community, decide otherwise
2. There will be no camping, WILD CAMPING or bothy-go-ing until we, the community, decide otherwise
3. All accommodation is closed until the end of July when this will be reviewed on a case by case basis in line with guidance

could have been written by John Bullough.

Apologies for being judgemental. I just cannot understand the intention or reasoning.

[wully]

Rum has always been full of weirdos....

Living in a small community I can fully understand their attitude although I welcome visitors back here - as long as they are respectful of our community rules. Which most seem to be.

The yotties I’ve been chatting to the past couple of days are the same cheery bunch they mostly seem to be and are practicing social distancing as they prep their boats. Most seem to be planning on sneaking off to a quiet anchorage where they will stay aboard and chill. What would be the point of going somewhere you are made very unwelcome anyway?

If this is the general behaviour and as long as the trend downwards in infections continues then things will get back to normal soon enough.

[cpedw]

The Coll Public Moorings are currently on the seabed and there is no date for restoring them. Meanwhile, they are a hazard to anchoring so use a tripping line or go elsewhere.

[wully]

The Coll Public Moorings are currently on the seabed and there is no date for restoring them. Meanwhile, they are a hazard to anchoring so use a tripping line or go elsewhere.

Coll.

Colloquially know as Fu*kall for good reason. Mostly owned by trust fund/minted absentee blow ins...

Maybe I should write an updated Scottish Islands guide to keep myself amused during the winter?

[claymore]

We had a programme on TV the other evening - Paul Merson's scottish something or other tours. This episode was focused on Coll and the owner of the Castle was on. Seemed a damn fine chap to me - sort of Cove who gets out of the bath for a pee and I doubt he'll stand any nonsense from the likes of Wullyum or his countrymen.
When I served in the Queens Own (Herbacious Borderers), I had a number of Brother Officers cut from a similar bolt of cloth. Fecked Mules, the lot of 'em. Mares of course, nothing queer about any of 'em.
just saying......

[Burst Boiler]

Paul Merson played for Arsenal. I think you mean Paul Merton - the guy from have I Got News For You.

[claymore]

Both wrong - PAUL MURTON

[cpedw]

Paul Merton, Paul Murton - it's very confusing. There's the one who used to be funny and the one who wears a funny hat. I don't know footballers.

[claymore]

Paul Merton does the shirts - Murton is a Tillyhatman. He walks with a sort of lisp....

[Burst Boiler]

Both wrong - PAUL MURTON

Aach, its more fun to come up with plausible but incorrect names. I think it was Peter Morton, who also makes morning rolls fur yet bacon.

[claymore]

There was a young chappie named Morton
Who had a long ball and a short 'un
Added to that, he'd a fine Tilly Hat
And.......

[cpedw]

Just back from Tobermory. It's quite busy but not yet at normal levels.

The Mishnish and McGochans are both open for food and drink. They were operating different systems; McGochans is table service but the Mish is bar. Staff at the Mish were wearing visors but no masks at McGochans. Will a standard arrangement emerge any time soon?

The harbour asks that you book ahead but they were taking in unbooked boats. And if you arrive after office hours, it's all yours.

[cpedw]

https://www.cmassets.co.uk/ntm-41-20-lo ... einstated/

[wully]

There was a young chappie named Morton
Who had a long ball and a short 'un
Added to that, he'd a fine Tilly Hat
And.......

...a seagull went and s*at on.

He cursed and raged, screamed and shouted
The rules of decency that dammed gull flouted
I’ll teach it some rules, that dammed bird
For ruining my hat with that huge used food.