A Very Rainy Day

Saturday 2^nd August 2014 (the wettest day of our young lives)

Our first morning together on Arran started early but went surprisingly smoothly, considering the long day many of us had yesterday travelling here. We made sandwiches, had breakfast, and left at exactly 9 o’clock (despite what Lucy may think!).

As we confidently stepped out from under the porch, the heavens opened for what would be a long and laborious day in the rain. Although ‘rain’ may be an understatement.

It was only 11 o’clock when we met up with conservation guy Andy (and his ill equipped accomplice) but we were already soaked through. After a fair walk and a quick stop for soggy sandwiches, the beach clean commenced! We managed to collect a grand total of 20 bags of rubbish, a traffic cone/makeshift megaphone, one fish crate, one tyre and a transformer’s leg (winner of the day’s most random find).

Along the way we learnt about the other ways the local community are helping to save some of the coastal and marine biodiversity through ‘Coast’. Not to mention spotting some interesting wildlife for ourselves, including a couple of cute grey seals, and oyster catcher and some herons.

Thoroughly wet, we then began the long walk back to Brodick bus terminal, only to find that we would be walking all the way to Shore Lodge (although we did stop at the Co-op to reward ourselves for the day’s efforts). Upon our return, the once ‘dry’ room wasn't dry for long.

Throughout the day we had discovered and explored Scotland’s first no-take zone where penalties are given to anyone attempting to remove any aspect of the coastline’s natural environment. We also began to understand the destructive impacts of many human activities such as over-fishing in the area.

All in all a very rewarding experience! J