The past 5 weeks have flown by. Since the last update we have kited… a lot ! Tiree gives you everything, flat water off shore sessions at Gott, waves pretty much everywhere depending on the wind direction and the odd day off just so you can get clean, dry and drunk !! Ha ha.
We have partied with the surfers and had our first every try of Buckfast ! It’s some sort of crazy wine/spirit that comes from Cornwall but is big in Scotland. At 5pm the next day I was still suffering with the world biggest hangover so maybe it’s not something you’ll want to rush out and buy, but mixed with Gin, Vodka and fruit (Scotlands very own Sangria) it tasted good at the time !! The surf guys rent a house and have the best way of deciding who cooks or does the chores – a game of cards is final. Even at the party, the loser had to buy all the food and cook for the 14 of us, gutted but glad it was not me or Danny doing the cooking ! Danny was in the last 3 so I was getting worried that we were all going to end up eating Wotsit and Dairylea butties! Lol, he just managed to get away with that one.
There is such a good vibe on the island. There are about 750 odd people that live here but in the summer there is about 2500, mostly windsurfers, surfers and kiters but also lots of families just here for a summer break. The sunsets are wicked and although we can easily find a beach to ourselves to camp over night you are never far from the sheep. They love rubbing up against the van, it’s only when the cows do the same that you have real problems !
Over the last couple of weeks, Helen Thompson (British Kitesurfing Champion) who lives in Tiree has been here with Sam Moore, another kiter from the British Tour so it’s been great riding with them on the water and taking photos.
Our return ferry is finally booked for the 27th August but we both know that Tiree is one place that we will come to time and time again. If there was anything that we would have changed in the last year, it would have been to come here earlier. Tiree is so safe and relaxed. It’s going to be strange going home and not waving at everyone you pass in the road – we’ll probably get some strange looks doing that around Chester.
In 3 weeks I’ll be all suited up and ready to start my training at Pannone and Danny is going to be back to Jon Jones and Son, pounding the turf with the mower. I absolutely can’t wait to start my training although I know it’s going to be hard, especially after the last year we have had but I am so ready, I certainly need to have a huge shopping spree when I get home, I don’t think that boardies and flip flops will really be appropriate.
Thank you to everyone who has been following the blog, I hope it’s not been too depressing reading about all the hot and sunny beaches when you are back in the UK and maybe you even fancy visiting the places we have been to.
Lots of Tiree love
Dan and Lottie
Walking back up the beach at Gott
Callums tent minus the poles and pegs - initiative camping !
You don't want this fella rubbing up against the van !
Helen T
We so wanted to take this dog with us
