09:33:50 As was traditional (well, we did it the year before), we gathered together in the lounge after breakfast and packing all our things for a group photo. To speed matters up, the actual photo was only taken with Luke's camera, so I just got a couple of crafty ones in while people were assembling.

09:34:13 It was surprisingly difficult to get everyone to be in one place at one time!

09:34:38 More or less everyone there now, just missing myself and Luke. Despite this, I rather like this picture. No-one is properly posing yet and it therefore gives a much better idea of people's characters.

09:52:00 Here's everybody waving goodbye to the house.

09:57:06 I think Luke is last at the gate there.

10:37:43 Down in Eigg Tearooms, by the harbour, where we waited to hear how we were going to get home. The Shearwater, the boat we had arrived on, had cancelled due to bad weather, and it was beginning to look like we might not be able to get on the Loch Nevis either.

10:38:02 Still, when in as pleasant an environment as Eigg Tearooms, nothing really seems much of a worry. Note carefully Perman (Purman?) in this picture.

10:38:08 Just Chie mainly. Lovely.

10:45:37 We'd had to label all our luggage as we were probably going on the larger ferry. I thought it wise to include Chie in this process.

10:51:17 Chie along with some of the other patrons of the tearooms.

11:18:09 After a while of indecision, it looked like we would be able to go back to the mainland on the Loch Nevis, meaning first a short ride on the much smaller boat which meets up with it.

11:26:34 This was quite a bumpy ride!

11:33:38 On the Loch Nevis now, looking down into the little boat which had brought us to it. The Loch Nevis is a very big boat by comparison, with proper stabilisers and everything. So sat perfectly still in the water whilst the smaller boat was going up and down like a yoyo by its side.

11:33:43 Our luggage. None of us had ever been on the Loch Nevis before, so weren't yet sure how (or if) our luggage would get to us....

11:33:55 People line the decks of the Loch Nevis, worrying about the fate of their luggage...

11:34:15 Always time for a lost shot of Eigg...

11:35:46 Having not yet offloaded our luggage the smaller boat worringly set off. The angle of the boat here ought to give you a vague idea of what a struggle it was having.

11:39:35 Luckily the smaller boat did come back, and our luggage was safely lifted off by crane. One of those things that must be the dullest activity in the world for the people doing the job, that have to do the same thing day in, day out, but for naive first-timers like ourselves, it was fascinating.

12:03:44 Inside the Loch Nevis. Having never been on it before, I had no idea how civlised and pleasant it would turn out to be.

12:11:29 The mainland, across turbulent seas. Yet again, it doesn't look nearly as rough as it was in the pictures.

12:11:39 Out on the decks it was pretty bracing.

12:12:02 Me, probably an embrassment to my naval ancestry.

12:13:37 Fire hydrant? In this weather, they were having a laugh.

12:18:25 I just like the sea, mountains and sky here. Simple, yet oddly wonderful (to me at least).

13:18:40 Back on the mainland, Mallaig to be more precise, after what, despite the weather, had been a very pleasant journey. Here, a look at the Loch Nevis from the side.

13:18:59 The car drivers got a taxi to Arisaig to pick up their cars. Me and Chie snuck off for a quick bite of lunch, whilst the others very kindly looked after our bags.

14:04:41 Here's the cars, and so, time now for the long drive home. Until next time, Eigg!