A(nother) Happy Post!
I've realised that almost all my entries have been me moaning about something, so here is a happy entry!
This post is inspired by _jenjen_ and her making me aware of Cara Dillon. Cara's music makes me happy!
The west coast of Scotland is awesome. Seriously, the Highlands and Islands are the only place where I've ever felt at home and at peace. They are magical. Since I was 3 and up until I left Uni, all but one of my summer holidays were spent sailing from the Clyde up the west coast. I loved anchoring in a small bay and going ashore for a walk in the most unspoilt land you could imagine. We'd come across a small pub and go in to see a traditional Celtic band or similar playing. It was a great way to spend an evening; sitting in a proper rural Scottish pub and listening to some of the most beautiful and sincere music you've ever heard.
Almost as good would be when we'd stop near a village that was by the sea. I'd be sitting out on deck reading a book and listening to the music drift across the water to me sitting on the boat. There aren't really words for this sort of memory.
This has reminded me of the time we had stopped on Skye. We had anchored in a bay just off Loch Scavaig, right amongst the Cuillins. Nearly half the bay is surrounded by cliffs. It's a beautiful place, still being on the sea yet right in amongst the mountains.
I didn't take this picture, by the way. See that little white dot in the lower left? That's a boat.
We were all sitting out on deck, admiring the sun setting behind the mountains. On one of the other boats anchored in the bay a man came onto deck dressed in full highland gear and wielding some bagpipes. Now I know a lot of people feel bagpipes sound like a cat being castrated, but played well and in the right place they be the greatest sound in the world. He went up onto the foredeck and started to play them like I have never heard before.
The music echoed off the cliffs around us to that the sound of the 'pipes seemed to be coming from everywhere - like the mountains were playing their own song. For those few minutes while the lone figure played, nothing else mattered; there was no yesterday and there would be no tomorrow. There was only me, the mountains and the music. As the sun finally disappeared down behind the mountains he stopped playing - and there was only silence.
That was one of moments that come all too rarely. Never had I felt like I did then, and I haven't done since. That is a memory that will never leave me.
I like happy entries! I need to do more. I think I might start posting more about my experiences and memories of sailing the west coast of Scotland. I may even turn it into a regular thing if people like it.
This post is inspired by _jenjen_ and her making me aware of Cara Dillon. Cara's music makes me happy!
The west coast of Scotland is awesome. Seriously, the Highlands and Islands are the only place where I've ever felt at home and at peace. They are magical. Since I was 3 and up until I left Uni, all but one of my summer holidays were spent sailing from the Clyde up the west coast. I loved anchoring in a small bay and going ashore for a walk in the most unspoilt land you could imagine. We'd come across a small pub and go in to see a traditional Celtic band or similar playing. It was a great way to spend an evening; sitting in a proper rural Scottish pub and listening to some of the most beautiful and sincere music you've ever heard.
Almost as good would be when we'd stop near a village that was by the sea. I'd be sitting out on deck reading a book and listening to the music drift across the water to me sitting on the boat. There aren't really words for this sort of memory.
This has reminded me of the time we had stopped on Skye. We had anchored in a bay just off Loch Scavaig, right amongst the Cuillins. Nearly half the bay is surrounded by cliffs. It's a beautiful place, still being on the sea yet right in amongst the mountains.
I didn't take this picture, by the way. See that little white dot in the lower left? That's a boat.
We were all sitting out on deck, admiring the sun setting behind the mountains. On one of the other boats anchored in the bay a man came onto deck dressed in full highland gear and wielding some bagpipes. Now I know a lot of people feel bagpipes sound like a cat being castrated, but played well and in the right place they be the greatest sound in the world. He went up onto the foredeck and started to play them like I have never heard before.
The music echoed off the cliffs around us to that the sound of the 'pipes seemed to be coming from everywhere - like the mountains were playing their own song. For those few minutes while the lone figure played, nothing else mattered; there was no yesterday and there would be no tomorrow. There was only me, the mountains and the music. As the sun finally disappeared down behind the mountains he stopped playing - and there was only silence.
That was one of moments that come all too rarely. Never had I felt like I did then, and I haven't done since. That is a memory that will never leave me.
I like happy entries! I need to do more. I think I might start posting more about my experiences and memories of sailing the west coast of Scotland. I may even turn it into a regular thing if people like it.