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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

MACRAE

Brigitte

The family of Brigitte Macrae would like to extend deepest gratitude to all those who have sent us messages of love and support since her sad passing 23/4/22. It has meant a great deal to Harry and her wider family in Scotland, France and around the world to hear of the warmth and affection with which she will always be held in so many hearts.

We would also like to send a special thanks to the local doctors and Ullapool community nurses, Richard Ross, the Arch Inn and staff, and all the other people who helped so, so much in recent weeks, her final days, passing and farewell.

Everyone is still in shock and devastated, but having such support from both near and far has been something that helps in ways beyond what can easily be expressed.

Thank you.

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SCOTTISH CYCLING LEGEND PREPARES FOR SECOND GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

CHRISTINA MACKENZIE AIMS TO BECOME THE FASTEST WOMAN TO CYCLE THE NORTH COAST 500 ROUTE THIS WEEKEND

Guinness World Record holding cyclist, Christina Mackenzie, is gearing up to attempt a new record that will see her become the fastest woman to cycle Scotland’s iconic North Coast 500. Setting off from Inverness Castle at 5am on Friday 13 May, the cyclist, who lives in Stirlingshire, will need to complete the 516 mile loop in under 35 hours to ride off with the title!

Last year, Christina caught the nation’s attention when she became the fastest woman to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats, completing the 839 miles journey in 51 hours, 5 minutes and 27 seconds!

This is all in aid of Cruse Scotland, a charity that offers free professional bereavement support to children and adults struggling to cope with their grief following the death of a loved one, are thrilled to have been nominated as the charity for the challenge.

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Everyone is out on their  Bicycle in Ross-shire – Round Ross Cycle in aid of Prostate Scotland also starts today and finishes 22nd May., with the Provincial Grand Master of visiting all the Lodges in his province!

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Annat Bay Watch

Weather being a bit temperamental means we aren’t managing out every day but we’ve had a few nice days too. Plenty seals about, when it’s calm we’re seeing porpoise. Sea Eagles most trips – though still some irregular behaviour and locations. Skua numbers seem to be increasing as they return for the summer and the odd gannet now too. Along with the usual guillemot (common and black) and razorbills, we’ve also been seeing some of their colourful cousins, puffins. We often get a few migrating puffin at this time of year but one day last week we actually lost count of them – mostly pairs so we’re assuming on route to breeding grounds at the Shiants or maybe Handa. Eider ducks in force rounds some of the islands and even a Shelduck with them and some mergansers too. Greylags have started having babies too.

Water still fairly cold but has jumped a couple of degrees in the last two weeks and we saw our first moon jellyfish, a couple of small stingers and gooseberry jellies about – along with some small strands of phytoplankton (plant plankton) so hopefully things starting to liven up. This week looks a bit poor but if we get a couple of late May warmer weeks then it should all start picking up.

We were joined by Mark from Big Picture Scotland, Cal Major and some of the Sea Savers for a trip to look at the issue of litter on the islands and our coast. Sadly one of the beaches we cleaned late last year is back to looking worse than ever and really showed that it’s an ongoing battle and needs more help. We did a couple of runs for some of the rubbish Flick Hawkins has gathered along from Rhue – approx. 75 kg of rubbish (well done Flick!) and also got a few old creels, ropes and buoys weighing around 144 kg in total. The boat is great at getting in and grabbing rubbish but works best if people have gathered and piled for us to collect as means less time on the beach and battling tides so please give us a shout if you have managed to gather anything in a remote or hard to reach beach or part of the coast and we’ll try our best to help. Well done to Edie and Aoifa from the Blu Starfish pod for doing a wee river litter pick also – an extra 3.5 kg of rubbish after school last week. Every bit helps!

BDMLR whale and rescue course in Ullapool, 22/5/22 – think subsidised spaces might be gone but still possible spaces for those wanting to train up and join the team. https://bdmlr.org.uk/marine-life-medic-mmm-training-course

As always, check social media for more pics and clips and drop us an email or message with and sightings, news or requests.

Noel

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