July 27 – Arriving Isle of Islay

In the usual way and roughly the same time as all the other days we left the camping site by the small and winding coastal road to Oban.  We hadn’t planned so much today.. We are going to Arduaine Gardens and then on to Kennacraig from there a ferry ride over to Port Ellen on Islay.  While Gun and Lennarth went in to Arduine Gardens  Terese and Patrik sat in Loch Melfort Hotel and had tea and coffee and shortbread.  Gun and Lennarth thought the gardens were very interesting and had many different variations of plants which we had at home.  Driving a little further we stopped at Kilmartin for lunch then we drove a smaller road since we had lots of time before the ferry went to Islay.  By taking a detour we got to see Crinan Canal.  In Lochgilphead we searched for a Co-op, Patrik had seen that they had Balvenie Double Wood which was cheaper there. After driving around we found it and Patrik bought his whisky.  We drove to Tabert and took a walk around the town, ate ice-cream, etc.  We then drove to the ferry terminal and picked up our tickets.  We continued to drive south  until we found a place to stop,  and found  a very nice beach, so Gun had a quick dip in the sea.    We had food on the ferry and met some Swedes.  They  were from Stockholm and had flown to Glasgow then were going to drive around Scotland.  We  also met a group of ladies who were going to cycle round Islay.  When we arrive on Islay we drove directly up to Kintra Farm where the camping site was.  The tents were put up on grass covered  sanddunes by the beach. We ate supper, then it was time for bed.