More blue skies

After I posted yesterday's blog entry, I returned to my camping spot for the night to find that my tent had been uprooted from its spot in the local park.  After I'd tidied up and making up my mind about what to do, a local resident came along and made it clear that my choice of campsite wasn't acceptable.  I've experienced hospitality and welcome everywhere I've been so far, so with the weather set fair and plenty of time before dusk, I decided to head off and find another spot for the night.  About an hour's walk south is the small village of Salen, which surrounds a small natural harbour where I found a cosy spot on the foreshore next to the public hall.

A good night's 'rest' because there was a considerable 'dusk chorus' including several different bird species: I'm not knowledgeable enough to be able to name them all, but certainly including a cuckoo, and once dusk had passed, a barn owl.  With the short hours of darkness, it wasn't long before the dawn chorus, and so I was up and off well before 9.

It seems to be a loch a day at the moment, today's amazing views where along the north shore of Loch Sunart, accompanied by the ancient oak forests of the area (in common with Loch Moidart) which provided plenty of shade in the rising temperatures.

A fairly straightforward walk along to Strontian, where I paused to eat lunch and buy provisions for my evening meal, before the final mile to the Ariundle Centre which hosts a local craft centre, cafe-restaurant and hostel style accommodation.  Certainly a good welcome, and I've spent the afternoon relaxing and dealing with some washing.  It's a good day for drying!