IONA or BUST!

Saturday to Iona

Our choices for Saturday morning were getting a cab into the subway and taking that to the train station - or Linda would drop us off. The catch being that she had to head out early to get to a conference where she was speaking later in the day. We opted for early so we could spend a bit more time with Linda and not have to navigate the city on our own. So we started the day sharing porridge with Linda - where we learned the proper size spoon to use (a BIG one!) and then loaded up the car - all by 6am. Then off to the train station where we got a cup of coffee and awaited the first step of our journey to Iona.

The train left the station at 8:20 and made its way across Scotland from Glasgow to Oban. We were lucky to have four seats to ourselves (two sets of two facing one another with a table in between). The journey took us right by Loch Lamond and through the hills filled with little waterfalls and even more beautiful vistas of the countryside. In Oban we left the train and walked about a block to catch the ferry. Linda had told us about a fish shop just before the ferry, so we picked up some crab sandwiches for lunch there. Once on the ferry we met up with Rachel, a friend of Jen’s from seminary who is also spending this week at Iona. She is traveling with a friend of hers called Schonda and the four of us had fun visiting on the boat ride enjoying our lunch.

That ferry took us to the Isle of Mull where we disembarked and got onto a bus for the next part of the trip. The forty-five minute bus trip over Mull was interesting. The roads are all pretty much one lane, so when we encountered a car coming the opposite direction, we had to find a place where they could get around us. Plus there were sheep and cattle grazing on the open range. A very different sort of traffic congestion all the way around! Jen was particularly excited because we saw some of the famous Highland cattle on Mull. They are big creatures with reddish coats and it looks as though they need a haircut as their bangs are in their eyes.

Once over Mull we got out of our bus and waited for the final ferry to Iona. While we waited it really began to rain in earnest - we were all grateful for the little building at the dock! When the boat had docked and folks were disembarking we braved the weather and headed out with all our belongings. The last ferry ride is quite short - maybe 15-20 minutes - but the water was really choppy from the weather. As we landed on Iona, there was a van waiting to take our suitcases and someone who would lead us the rest of the way. So we left our bags standing in the rain so they could get loaded up and we zipped up our rain jackets and began the walk. The Abbey and MacLeod Center are not that far from the dock, however at the end of this long day of travel, walking in the pouring rain, it seemed further!

We were greeted with steaming hot cups of tea and freshly made shortbread (as well as information about a “drying room” for our clothes) - it was a great welcome and we immediately began to warm up.

Once were were assigned our rooms and our bags had been delivered we had time to explore a bit. So we gave one another tours of our respective buildings and went to see what is in the Iona bookshop as well as the shop run by local artists. We were able to stay mostly dry and get back in time for dinner.

After supper we had a welcome session where we had the chance to meet some of the other folk with whom we will be spending the week. In the Abbey there are two sizable groups, one from Cambridge and one from Sweden as well as a smattering of folks from other places. In the Mac there folks from all over, including a family with two young children from Australia.

The evening ended with worship in the Abbey church followed by tea and cookies in the refectory. Several people who are staying elsewhere on the island (hotels, b&bs, camping, etc.) plus some of the locals came to the service and the fellowship time afterwards.

We fell asleep that evening feeling quite welcomed, and grateful to have made the journey safely.