This is my diary of the week I spent on a Whale watching tour on the Isle of Mull, in Scotland during 1995. It is split into 4 parts (2 days at a time) and includes Photo's taken by me. It seems to work better with Netscape Navigator than IE, which occasionally decides to ignore left and right justification on images for some reason. It also works best if you can maximize your window, otherwise some of the pictures seem to overlap each other or the text.
The company I travelled with have their own web pages, which will tell you more about the work they do, and how you can take part too, which can be found by following the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust Link

Saturday 12 August

An eventful journey... The train to Glasgow is delayed at Wigan due to line blockage and/or locomotive failure. It is announced that we will be delayed by 10 - 15 minutes, then after that time it is announced that we will be leaving in 10 - 15 minutes... The train crawls through to Preston, then starts to pick up speed. At Oxenholme we are half an hour late, although we make most of this up by Glasgow, arriving only 8 minutes late.
At Queens Street station I overhear the two people next to me talking about the Oban train. There is a very indistinct announcement about this train, and on checking the departure board I discover it is 15 minutes late. I tell my neighbours. "Oh no" says the woman, "I hope we don't miss the Ferry" - It turns out she is also going Whale watching, her name is Denise. The train is eventually over 30 minutes late due to 'awaiting extra carriages'. The queue of passengers stretches all around the concourse, but with a nifty bit of overtaking, and by making for the furthest door, I manage to get one of three or four unbooked seats. Denise had booked a seat, which turns out to be just behind me.
Fortunately the ferry has been held as both the train and the bus are late, and we are able to board via an 'emergency' gang plank (as the outer isles ferry is already in the main dock) and buy tickets on board. We are met at the other end by Laurie, Marÿka and a light shower. There are 7 of us to take back up in the Landrover, Jürgen & Sonja from Frankfurt, Karen, Lynn, Pat Denise and myself). The eighth member of the package (Brian) is in his own car, and beats us to Dervaig.

Everyone seems to get on very well together (despite the huge number of teachers! (half the package)), as we settle in, listen to Richard's introductory talk, and take dinner with Julian and Jacqui, who is the 'stand-in' cook for the week.

Sunday 13th August

Wake up to brilliant sunshine, but by the time we have had breakfast it is pouring with rain! We are joined by four day trippers, one of whom is called Gary, and three of whom aren't. Crew are Julian, Jacqui and Marÿka The rain gas stopped by the time we leave the lodge, but starts again (a gentle shower) as we get on the boat. It doesn't rain again, but the sky is mostly overcast and the swell quite heavy. A number of people are seasick, but, I am glad to say, I am not one of them (score 1 for sea bands!) (in fact Sonja is so sick she won't come out on the boat again for the rest of the week)

A disappointing day from a cetacean point of view, 2 unconfirmed sightings of Minke, and one confirmed Porpoise. We did see quite a few seals however, particularly on Coll, where we stopped for lunch, and again in anther bay when we stopped to talk to a sailing ship, which sails down to see whales in the Canary Islands. Also plenty of seabirds, mostly Manx Shearwater (in rafts, which is not the same as on rafts), but also Gannets, assorted Gulls and an Arctic Skua.

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Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust