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Didòmhnaich, 01/Aug/2010

Islay Blogging Roundup #131

Islay Blogging Roundup in stencil

Suddenly August has arrived, not entirely sure how that happened so quickly. Compared to spring and early summer I think July has been much cloudier and wetter in most of the UK with finally the rain catching up at least a bit. With a bit of luck I can provide a link to the July rainfall stats for Islay in this roundup later, with that to the blogs writing about Islay and Jura in the last week of July 2010:

Let me start with some beautiful drawings by Joanna, who made the long trek from London to Islay to find inspiration from Islay's weather, landscape and distilleries: North by Northwest: Islay contains mainly drawings of the scenery while Islay: The Angels’ Share, well, I think that's obvious.

Another visitor was Andrew Scott, who had a number of entries: Time 2, Final report from Islay, Discarded art, Overheard on Islay and To the Southern Hebrides and back. Mark McGowan is on the way to Islay soon, hopefully we'll hear more from him after Say Hello to Islay and Goodbye to Care. I guess Bill and Lisa's visit to Islay is already over, as they write 36 Hours in Islay- Not Enough Time!

I've mentioned his tours in Islay Holiday Tours, now Scottish Routes has written another blog entry about a visit to Islay: Laughter, sunshine, drams, history, culture, great food, rain, Islay hospitality! « On Tour with Tour Wullie. I suspect there will be more to come…

Now let's go walking: I've mentioned them in the last roundup and wrote I was expecting more to come from Alex and Bob`s Blue Sky Scotland. They have kept the promise with Mull of Oa.Port Nan Gallan.Beinn Mhor. and Machir Bay,Saligo Bay and Cnoc Uamh Nam Fear.

From walking to sea kayaking, old favourite Douglas Wilcox of Sea kayaking with SeaKayakPhoto.com fame, who was in action just north of Jura. Trying to hold a straight course in the Dorus Mor., A hidden lagoon in the Sound of Jura., Relaxing, with the roaring of the Dogs in our ears., Givin' the Dogs the slip! and Guirasdeal, a miniature Scarba! describe their journey so far.

Also on the water is the Tenacity of Bolton, a sail training ketch from, no surprise there, Bolton. Day 2 - Ramsey to Islay, Day 3 - at Islay and Day 4 - Ready About! Islay to Ulva cover the Islay stage of their cruise.

You want whisky? OK, have a few Islay whisky related blog entries: Whiskies a gogo titles a blog entry on the Grauniad site (I'll let you spot the traditional spelling mistakes…), even though it's actually more about gardening. Islay - peat whisky heaven write Pepper + Ninja from a distillery tour visit to Islay. Whisky Region: Islay writes the Whisky Critic, although I didn't agree with his classifications. I'm not sure what exactly Joan is writing as I don't speak his language, but Malt whisky: Diversos Bruichladdich is certainly about an Islay single malt. Whisky For Everyone have just tried the Kilchoman Single Cask from Royal Mile Whiskies while Billy's Booze Blog writes about Ardbeg and the Committee. A Dram A Day – Day 23 revisits an old standard with the Bunnahabhain 12yo. The Danish Whisky Blog writes about Distilleries improved, which includes a few Islay and Jura distilleries. The Bruichladdich Blog in the meantime reports a Retirement and mentions an upcoming Best of West Masterclass for a good cause.

In other news the Celtic Shaman – Elen Sentier writes about Lammas: old “country” customs … mentioning ‘Islay's Cailleach’ while Ron discovers Estate Tweeds on Islay. He also provides his Islay News Roundup Second Half of July.

A special mention needs to go to Eleanor and James Crossing Scotland Coast to Coast. While their journey won't take place on Islay much of the preparation does, after all they live on Islay, where many will know James from his work for the RSPB Loch Gruinart. Some might also know his daughter, in particular participants in the Islay walking week. Certainly a blog to follow and charities to support!

Now on to the birdwatching and the weather, the post I was hoping for in the first paragraph can be found on the Islay Birds blog with the rainfall figures for July. In short: Not as much as I thought. There's also a nice picture of a Mute Swan and we can find some rather old birdwatching notes. The Islay Natural History Trust blog in the meantime has spotted the first Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) of the year and Flowers in a Shorefield ditch. John Islay Birder Armitage reports Things on the move! and has thoughts about The New Enlightenment?

As usual I'll finish with the pictures: Ron has cloudscapes at Loch Indaal while on Mark's Islay Photography Gallery I quite liked Ripening Barley 2 and Kintra 1. From my own Islay Pictures photoblog (this week with a lot of generous help by my sister Imke) I think I'll go for Laphroaig Distillery from The Oa and Eilean a'Chuirn Lighthouse from the Islay Ferry.

That's it for July 2010, hopefully we'll get a nice August with both sunshine and rain on Islay. Of course there's still the link to the Scottish Roundup, this week with A blogging tour through Scotland for the bigger picture. Time for a wee dram (I think I'll go for a Laphroaig Cairdeas this evening) before I'm off to bed. Good night!

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