Today turned out to be a "bike free day". We knew in advance that one of today's options, a "stunning ocean-side hike along spectacular cliffs" wouldn't be possible due to foot and mouth disease precautions, but little did I realize what a fantastic day Saunie and Herb had cooked up for us instead.

Cycling was an option, but everyone jumped at the chance to visit Iona, Staffa, and the Treshnish Isles which our leaders had arranged.

We were driven by van from Tobermory to Fionnphort, where we took the short ferry to Iona. After a visit there and a sumptuous picnic complete with local libation (guess!), we boarded the Hoy Lass, a small twin engine work boat, and proceeded to Staffa (we didn't land), the Treshnish Isles (where we did), and finally back to mainland Mull.

Iona is a tiny island rich in history. It's the base from which St. Columba introduced Christianity to Scotland, and the burial grounds of dozens of Scottish, Irish and Norse kings and other notables..

Staffa means "Pillar Island" and is distinguished by breathtaking formations of columnar basalt and caves, the most famous of which is Fingal's Cave which inspired Mendelssohn's overture of the same name (also known as The Hebrides?).

And the Treshnish Isles, a small group of islands about 3 miles off the nearest point of Mull, are home to a Puffin colony. I'll let the photos speak to that. And if you share those characteristics for which I was awarded the group's tongue-in-cheek "Passion for Puffins" award, click here!

Suffice it to say it was a fantastic day, with each destination exciting in it's own way. And not to be outdone, the skipper of the tiny Hoy Lass treated us to tremendous winds and waves on the way home, with copious amounts of water blowing in below decks until his daughter (pardon me, his crew) managed to close and lock an errant window.