A Hitch in Mull - by Laurie

Today was a travel day. After a slow delicious morning of Scottish breakfast and wandering in Inverness we got on our first bus. We were coached to sit on the left as the bus followed Loch Ness for much of the journey to Fort William. Beautiful! But no monsters. The second bus ride was from Fort William to Oban (sit on the right). Even more beautiful. The Scottish Highlands are unbelievably gorgeous. 

The one fly in our ointment was an email this afternoon from the B&B host on the Isle of Mull to say the bus from the ferry stopped running last week for the season. Uh oh. The town we were heading for, Tobermory, is over 20 miles from the ferry landing. We were already on our way so we just had to trust that things would work themselves out somehow. 

We talked to the ferry purser who made an announcement looking for a ride for us--no offers. We left the ferry hoping for a miracle but weren't that lucky. We had our Plans B, C, and D. Our B&B hosts didn't have a car available but we could call the one taxi on the island, based in Tobermory, which would cost a fortune; we could look for accommodations in Craigmure and forfeit our rooms in Tobermory, we could stay where we were and freeze to death...we decided to hitchhike. 

An older couple hitchhiking on the road with luggage should get results--problem was, there wasn't much traffic that late in the day. Sensible people were at dinner. We stood out there for about 45 minutes (and as if the cold and uncertainty weren't enough, a gawdawful alarm went off nearby threatening to destroy our hearing). But despite the racket we finally got our miracle. A couple on holiday from Sheffield, England, stopped and drove us all the way to our door where we were greeted with hugs and joy by our hosts. 

Warmth, tea, a nice bed...adventures are so satisfying when they're over and we're cozy once again. 

Adventures can sometimes be uncomfortable.