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Drydock... in & out
Fyne Spirit has been in drydock and passed all inspections with flying colours. The hull is cleaned, painted and ready for service. She is now back at the pier, where she is getting her final shape. The superstructure is being constructed. Deck 2 will have two passenger cabins (or one suite), the lounge and the restaurant. We now really are getting a sense of shape and space. On the bridge the equipment is being installed one by one and a carpenter is making the bridge furniture. Another carpenter is in charge of the crew area. He has already erected the walls and is now making the furniture for the crewmess. When we have a rainy day and it isn´t possible to work outside, the welders are working on the galley.
The days are getting shorter and shorter, but our crew is dedicated as ever and hopefully we will be able to meet the deadlines as the weeks go by.
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From the Isle of Mull Fyne Spirit sets course to Staffa and Iona.
Staffa means "Pillar Island", which only begins to describe the breathtaking formations of columnar basalt. It is an island of caves, of which the best known is Fingal's Cave, a full 227 ft (69 m) deep and 66 ft (20 m) high.
One name for Staffa meant "melodious Cave" in deference to the echoing waves and the sound of the gulls. Most visitors will know Mendelssohn's overture Fingal's Cave, also known as The Hebrides, which he composed in 1829 after a visit to the island. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert landed on Staffa in 1847, the queen recording the visit in her diary. Other visitors include Sir Walter Scott, Keats, Wordsworth and the artist Turner, who in 1832 exhibited his Staffa: Fingal's Cave at the Royal Academy. It was sold to a buyer in the United States.
Iona is thought to be the first Christian site in Scotland. As such, this tiny island (1 mile wide, 3.5 miles long), now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, is very popular with pilgrims and the thousands of tourists who come to visit the Abbey in the summer months.
One of Scotland's most historic and venerated sites, lona Abbey is a celebrated Christian centre and the burial place of early Scottish kings.
The Abbey and Nunnery grounds house one of the most comprehensive collections of Christian carved stones in Scotland, ranging in age from 600AD to the 1600s.
Eight hundred years later the island's significance was reaffirmed when the Abbey buildings were restored and an active community again took up residence. Visitors can tour the Abbey, including Torr an Aba - the site of St Columba's writing cell - which provides a view over the Abbey; St Columba's Shrine; the Abbey church and cloisters. To the north-east of the Abbey is the Michael Chapel and the Infirmary Museum where a magnificent collection of carved stones is on view.
Iona has a very interesting golfcourse.
A magnificent stretch of machair (short grass on sand) forms the basis of the informal Iona Golf Course which looks onto one of the finest beach views. The machair is habitat to sheep, cattle and golfers, who step carefully as they navigate the 18-hole golf course laid out there. The worst obstacle during the annual Iona Open is a bull, who favors the vegetation on the ninth green. Take a swing at your ball, but try not to hit the grazing sheep. This 18-hole golf course is naturally dramatic and, best of all, free of charge.
Due to the small size of the Isle of Iona, there is no possibility for real hiking. But the island is the perfect place for a long flat walk to discover its unspoiled beaches, nature and wildlife. Fishing trips are offered by local operators. Because of the variety of landscapes, from flat to rolling hills, Iona provides a lot of opportunities for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The relatively safe, quiet roads offer more leisurly family cycling. And if you are the type of traveller who occasionally likes to park your bike alongside the road and get off the beaten path, then Iona is definitely for you.
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