GALE

So here is what wikipedia says about gales....

A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots (63–87 km/h, 17.5–24.2 m/s or39–54 miles/hour) of sustained surface winds.^[1] Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are expected.

Other sources use minima as low as 28 knots (52 km/h, 32 mph) and maxima as high as 90 knots (170 km/h, 100 mph). Through 1986, the National Hurricane Center used the term gale to refer to winds of tropical force for coastal areas, between 33 knots (61 km/h, 38 mph) and 63 knots (117 km/h, 72 mph). The 90-knot (170 km/h) definition is very non-standard. A common alternative definition of the maximum is 55 knots (102 km/h, 63 mph).^[2]

The most common way of measuring winds is with the Beaufort scale /ˈboʊfərt/,^[3] which defines gale as wind from 50 to 102 km/h. It is an empirical measure for describing wind speed based mainly on observed sea conditions. Its full name is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale.

On the Beaufort Wind Scale, a Gale is classified as: Moderate Gale(32–38 miles per hour), Fresh Gale(39-46 mph), Strong Gale(47-54 mph) and Whole Gale(55-63 mph). A Gale is a type of Wind Description preceded by Calm, Light Air, light Breeze, Gentle Breeze, Moderate Breeze, Fresh Breeze, Strong Breeze and succeeded by Storm,Violent Storm and Hurricane on a Beaufort Wind Scale. There is a unique Beaufort Scale number and a unique Arrow Indication for each type of Wind Description mentioned above.

I have no idea if this storm qualified as a gale or not....but it was amazing to be in it from this particular location and I am glad I was able to experience it.  These images were taken at the very beginning ... probably around 9:30 - 10 pm..  Before the wind had really picked up.  My room had a window which faced north - northwest - and all night the wind howled.  I don't think I really slept, and it was the only night I could see the shadow of the lighthouse light as it rotated past my room  (....the light was on every night - but we could never see it because it never got dark enough - but during this storm it did).

When I say the wind howled I mean it.  Kind of a shrill screeching howl that NEVER let up - not even for a second.  It was un-nerving and I found myself wondering at one point if we were safe or not...and where we go anyways...and how would we get there.  (re-look at the video of the road to the lighthouse....).  The next morning as everyone wandered down to breakfast I realized that I wasn't alone...it had kept pretty much everyone up.  The storm lasted about 24 hours...and then the sun came out and the sea was a brilliant blue again.

Summer Solstice.  Where else would I want to be.  Printing on the edge of the Atlantic with a group of women - learning new things under the guidance of Tatana Kellner.  Her energy and humor as a teacher make cramming all of this information into what is  too short a time period worth every second.  This experiential workshop was organized by the Women's Studio Workshop.  I can't say enough about it that would convey how wonderful the experience is.  My head is being filled with sights, sounds, tastes and practices that are uncorking a lot of pent up ideas.

The first image is from the Inverewe Garden - where we spent a few hours yesterday drawing in rain (more images later).  The second is my humble work station.

Rubha Reidh Lighthouse

This is where I am walking in the mornings these days.  Originally I got here like this - but not on a motorcycle (although that would have been fun) - but rather in a van with four other women and our driver - Brian.  Jenny Krantz may remember another bus ride, years back, in Ireland.  On that trip the driver decided that he was afraid of heights and refused to keep going along the cliffside road.  Brian had no such issues - even though you can see the roads were treacherous as well.  There are hikers that come through - but no other people staying here as our small group has taken over all the rooms and we are using the solarium as a print / paper-making studio.  The couple who just bought this place in February are wonderful hosts - although the may not quite know what to make of us.  They have to deal with all sorts of things from pointing out whales to rescuing people who go up the paths in unsuitable shoes.  This afternoon an older woman slipped on the grass and almost went over the edge (her bag did).  She merely broke her wrist, but it could have been much much worse.  There is no 911 to call...and the nearest hospital is 85 km. away.  Away Roger went to take her there.

By the time that I reached Inverness on Sunday night - I was more than a mess.  I had been in the same clothes since Thursday morning.  I had stressed myself silly with worry over my suitcase - was it travelling with me to Amsterdam, or had it been sent to Manchester where I might never find it until I took the train down there to retrieve it?  The airport in Amsterdam was entertaining - but not for the entire seven hours I had to wait there.  "Go out and see Amsterdam, " said the young woman behind the counter.  I didn't dare risk getting lost and missing another connection...and I was so mentally tired I wasn't focusing.

The Inverness airport is very small.  LIke a large hangar divided into a couple of sections.  I was the last person through customs behind a young brother and sister from China who spoke no English.  They were in Inverness (?) for a tennis tournament but they had no idea where it was or how to even say the name of it.  The girl kept handing her cell phone to the customs agent.  It took them awhile to sort it out.

THERE WAS MY SUITCASE!  (yay)  I made my way with all my stuff out to the the taxi stand and - get out of dodge - the only guy waiting there was from Lansing, Michigan.  He teaches Environmental Economics at State and he had never been to Scotland either.  We shared a cab into town with a driver who gave us a history lecture the entire way.

I am  now where I'm supposed to be - having a productive time and totally enamored with the scenery.  The days are full of companionship and work.  More about that later.  It is past midnight and I need to get some sleep even though it looks like it is about 7:30 pm here.  (Did I mention there is no "darktime" here.)  Night all.

adventures in air travel....

The one thing about riding business class - at least on this supposedly "short" flight to Atlanta - is that the pilot (Captain Dan) was VERY chatty.  You know how when you are riding economy, and maybe you're in the 23rd row and every once in awhile the pilot will come over the intercom and say something?  But the noise of the plane is so loud that it sounds like gibberish surrounded by white noise and you immediately wonder what it was he was trying to tell you?  Well, that isn't the case in business class.  Captain Dan talked to us often.  Heck, he even came out and shook the hands of everyone and   thanked us for our business.  He then proceeded to go through the entire plane and shake the hand of every service person on board, thanking them for keeping us free.  This was BEFORE the plane had even left the ground.

Me, I was feeling pretty darn good.  The weather was beautiful, they had checked my bag (ahhh my bag - I wonder where it is now?) and given me a boarding pass before I walked into the airport. Going through security was simple and painless.

A ways into the flight Capt. Dan told us to expect a little turbulence - there was a line of storms we had to cross, but we were going to circle west a bit and come in behind them.  Next message:  Atlanta is not letting planes land, so we are going to stay above clouds and circle again.  Next message:  There is a "hole" in the clouds and we are going to "shoot" for it and try and land....it might get bumpy.  It got VERY bumpy.  I could see the airport below us, the the winds were buffeting us about like a paper plane.   Up we went again.  Next message:  Sorry folks, our plane wasn't built to take those 50mph winds, and we are diverting to Columbus, South Carolina.  Next message:  Atlanta would prefer us to go to Savannah where we will refuel.  Don't worry, we have enough fuel to get there.

Savannah - we don't get off.  Some people demand to terminate there....they do get off.  We refuel.  Back in the air - forty minutes to Atlanta - the storms have moved but you can see them in the distance. We land - its midnight.  Four plus hours after we were supposed to have landed.  My connecting flight to the UK - which was to have left at ten was also delayed....but it had taken off ten minutes before we landed.

There is a line.  A very LONG line full of angry, sad, tired people.  Each with their own stories - connections to be made,  It is always interesting to see how people respond.  Some throw tantrums, some heckle the tantrum throwers.  Lots of people who do not speak english - lots of flights were cancelled or late because of these storms - and there are people laying all over the airport sleeping....on the benches, on the floor, huddled in corners.  This isn't a tragedy - it's just a natural occurrence for people who have the privilege of using this kind of transportation.

By the time I get to the head of the line it is four a.m.  The soonest they can get me out is Saturday night (its now Friday morning).  There are no hotel rooms for 30 miles...but here are some food vouchers and come back to the desk at seven and we will probably be able to get you a room somewhere - as people will be getting up early to catch flights.  Staggered out to find juice, coffee, anything.  Sat in a chair and watched Sons of Anarchy on netflix.  At seven, went back to the desk and got a voucher for a room at the Best Western - run by an Indian family who have interesting ideas about decorating.  No rooms clean yet so I was invited to sit in the "lobby" (one couch and a tv) and watch Good Morning America. I passed out....and they woke me up at nine to direct me to my room.  Slept till almost six p.m..  Ihop for a meal.  Back to the airport tomorrow.  Atlanta is hot - and the world-wide mixture of extremely kind and extremely strange people.

Travel is a journey.  If you allow yourself to forget that...you spend a lot of time being uselessly upset.  I would like my luggage to find me at my final destination.  I will really be tired of this outfit by then.  I wrote to the place in Scotland where I had booked rooms for tonight and tomorrow and explained what had happen.  They replied within the hour - telling me that they would have a room and a cuppa tea waiting for me when I got there - because the airport experience "sounds tedious."  Well put.