Easdale RIB Rendezvous, Oban, 30 April/1May

[Tony Hill]

Richard.
Not too sure what to say re petrol stations but try Birchwood Service station departing Oban for Easdale pass the traffic lights by the school - Right turn to Tesco and on around 400m. Birchwood is a Gleaner station on the left hand side just before you head out. If the fuel cans are in your boat then most petrol stations here are used to boats pulling in, Tesco no exception.

Mitch
Well it can snow but maybe the sun could also shine. Today is sunshine with very heavy cold showers. It should warm up shortly. It certainly hasn't been a balmy 23 degrees as down south.
Cologin Chalets - Jim and Linda Battison who run the chalets have registered for the event. Cologin to Easdale is an easy 20 minutes by boat. Jim can help with advice here. I am meeting Linda tomorrow so will let her know.

Fort Augustus - rather far away from our patch. If you just wish to head to Easdale either be car or RIB pleased to meet up and point you in the general direction of some excellent cruising. Our ticket office is on the square opposite the Oyster Bar

Tony

[mitchc]

Originally Posted by Tony Hill

It should warm up shortly. It certainly hasn't been a balmy 23 degrees as down south.
Cologin Chalets - Jim and Linda Battison who run the chalets have registered for the event. Cologin to Easdale is an easy 20 minutes by boat. Jim can help with advice here. I am meeting Linda tomorrow so will let her know.

Fort Augustus - rather far away from our patch. If you just wish to head to Easdale either be car or RIB pleased to meet up and point you in the general direction of some excellent cruising. Our ticket office is on the square opposite the Oyster Bar

Tony

Cold rain!!
I've been in shorts and t-shirts for two weeks now!!!

I'll give Jim and Linda a call next week to have a chat.
We'll be in the area early on Satruday so I'll drive over to say hello.
We're not doing boaty stuff every day; I'd like to go and get some good wildlife photo's. With all your local knowledge you may be able to suggest some good spots!

Thanks for organising this, it sounds like it's going to be a really good weekend! (as long as you can put up with all us southern softies!).

[9D280]

Originally Posted by mitchc

Cold rain!!
I've been in shorts and t-shirts for two weeks now!!!

So have we - it's only rain!

Being Serious-ish for sa moment, is there not a huge wildlife sanctuary thingy round Cairngorm? Assuming you are starting from Inverness-ish, if you come back via the A9, a night in Aviemore might get you some interesting furry / feathered things to point the camera at?

[Richard Selman]

Its the highland wildlife park, just south of Kincraig where I will be stopping with the RIB on the way south to Oban that Thursday night.

http://www.highlandwildlifepark.org/

Polar bear(s)?, tigers, snow monkeys, wolves etc.

Richard

[mitchc]

Thanks for the replies about the wild life photo's.
I've spent about a week so far this year sitting in hides trying to catch some snaps of otters! I was hoping to find a comfy tussock to hide behind and point my big lens at some WILD furry things rather than in a zoo... but if I get desperate I might resort to cheating ;-).
Also on the list are ospreys and puffins?

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[Tony Hill]

There are otters near Easdale. Indeed when its winter and quiet the ferryman has been known to chase them out of the ferryshed in the morning.
Photos taken locally

[JuliaH]

Originally Posted by mitchc

Cold rain!!
I've been in shorts and t-shirts for two weeks now!!!

I'll give Jim and Linda a call next week to have a chat.
We'll be in the area early on Satruday so I'll drive over to say hello.
We're not doing boaty stuff every day; I'd like to go and get some good wildlife photo's. With all your local knowledge you may be able to suggest some good spots!

Thanks for organising this, it sounds like it's going to be a really good weekend! (as long as you can put up with all us southern softies!).

Have you considered a cruise up Loch Etive? The northern end is very remote and reputed to have both golden and sea eagles.

[mitchc]

I'm building up an itinerary at the moment so keep the suggestions coming. It'd be mega to even catch a glimpse of a sea or golden eagle!

Thanks
Mitch.

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[Tony Hill]

If you know where to go/look then you do stand a good chance of success if you are patient. Only golden eagle today. Sea eagle sightings are generally more numerous than sea eagle sightings. Selection from Sept last year, the sea eagles one pic male, one pic female, one pic chick. Golden eagles are different birds. Before you ask, taken by one of last year's crew who had an interest in photography

[mitchc]

Originally Posted by Tony Hill

Before you ask, taken by one of last year's
crew who had an interest in photography

Superb,
Makes me think I should give up my crazy job down south, sell everything and come and live up there!

Got any crew jobs going?

See you in a few days,
Mitch

[Tony Hill]

and final organisational details have been sent out to those who have registered. If they haven't reached you just e mail us
info@easdaleRIBrendezvous.org.uk

We are still able to accommodate further RIBs so if you are in the area please just get in touch
www.easdaleRIBrendezvous.org.uk

All we need is more of the excellent weather we are currently enjoying

[mitchc]

Hi Tony, got the email.
We're currently camped on the edge of loch Lomond after a 440 mile drive from Essex!
We plan be in Oban about midday tomorrow. Are you around in the afternoon, I'd like to come over and say hello?
I'll call you when we're on the road in the morning. Look forward to meeting you.
Mitch

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[willk]

So, nice gig, but how many RIBnetters are going?

[Tony Hill]

We have reached 50 RIBs registered although we are trying to confirm how many are likely to turn up on the day. We have moorings available for around 75 RIBs we just need to allocate by size. There is still room for others to join the event www.easdaleRIBrendezvous.org.uk
BBQ numbers Sat night are coming along fine

Mitch - I am generally around most of the time during the holiday(busy) periods. 01852 300003 should bring a response

Tony

[MikeH]

Originally Posted by mitchc

Hi Tony, got the email.
We're currently camped on the edge of loch Lomond after a 440 mile drive from Essex!
We plan be in Oban about midday tomorrow. Are you around in the afternoon, I'd like to come over and say hello?
I'll call you when we're on the road in the morning. Look forward to meeting you.
Mitch

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Mitch,

We are up all week at Craobh and called in to see Tony and drop our details off. We were out around Jura today and got a couple of photo of some very interesting LARGE birds. If you want to meet up next week on the water give us a call/text(no signal at our cottage so text is best) 07827 669099. Weather so far since Friday has been great Pasty white winter face turning reddish/brown. Also saw porpoises/dolphins, seals, gannnets diving, and puffins, whirlpools and waves, mike Julia h

[mitchc]

Originally Posted by MikeH

Mitch,

We are up all week at Craobh and called in to see Tony and drop our details off. We were out around Jura today and got a couple of photo of some very interesting LARGE birds. If you want to meet up next week on the water give us a call/text(no signal at our cottage so text is best) 07827 669099. Weather so far since Friday has been great Pasty white winter face turning reddish/brown. Also saw porpoises/dolphins, seals, gannnets diving, and puffins, whirlpools and waves, mike Julia h

Hi Mike, same problem with the signal where we are staying too!
Just looked at the weather and have planned to go to Tobermory tomorrow and then head down to Jura on tuesday.... If you are around give me a call on the VHF, our rib is called Kestrel.
I'll text you my mobile too.
Hope we can meet up
Mitch

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[Richard Selman]

I'm intending to launch at Craobh Haven first thing on Friday morning. High tide is at 4am and the yard opens at 7am by which time it may be getting iffy to launch. I have an arrangement with the yard to get me access before this. If anyone else wants to launch from here early on, PM me and we can probably arrange.

Richard

[Tony Hill]

As we run RIB tours daily we keep a close eye on the local forecast.
Whilst we don't like giving an opinion with 3 days to go the indications are that the bit of east wind expected is going through earlier and will not be as strong as was originally predicted.

Lets hope the trend continues.

We were out on Colonsay yesterday, things are looking OK out there. With an east wind we may find the inner harbour a bit of a squeeze but its a rising tide throughout

Tony

[SeaSkills]

I'm hoping to be over at Easdale on Friday afternoon (with my RNLI Sea Safety hat on) and I'll have a copious supply of Sea Safety books with me.

Delighted to meet any RIBnetters who may be around - come and hunt me down

ian

[eilean mor]

great effort Tony, thanks,

we were in Easdale on and off today, between heading round, Cuan, Luing, Grey dogs, Corrie, Dorus Mor and there was a good atmosphere building, and its great to see the number of RIBS there growing by the hour

oh, and I saw the ice cream being delivered to the shop, so thats looking alright as well!