Why I Come to Mull
-
by John Cressey long time competitor on the Tour of Mull
21 years ago had I seen a sign at Craignure ferry terminal which read "Go
Home Now & Visit Here Only Once" and had I actually taken
notice, I would have saved a bucket load of money but lost a fortune in
friendship and fun.
It's only on the long drive home when you start thinking about the
comradeship, the hospitality of the islanders, the atmosphere and the general
good time that is the Tour of Mull do you realise that you cannot visit just the
once.
When you do make that second visit you're hooked. It's not the fact that you
know where all the pubs are, or that you get to know the opening and closing
times rather well….although this may be one of the down sides of your visit,
it all depends on your viewpoint!…It's the fact that the people are so
friendly. I've known it take me over an hour just to walk 600 yards for a bottle
of milk and a loaf of bread, try that one in Sainsburys and you'll find yourself
on a charge of "loitering with intent"!
It's also the scenery. Surely there can be nothing better than the views from
Brian Molyneux's memorial, or from the top of the Calgary drops looking out to
sea on a fine autumn day. Or from one of many other vantage points you can find
with a little exploration.
Why do I come back to Mull every year? Maybe it has something to do with the
fact that the whole family comes. Not just the wife and kids, but my brother and
his wife, my mother and father, the in-laws, numerous friends and a full
complement of service crew…who can prove themselves just as adept at propping
up the bar as they can working on a car. Maybe it's the people, both locals and
in-comers here for the rally. Or perhaps it's just the magic of Mull? Although I
don't consider myself particularly well travelled I've never found anything like
it anywhere else in the world.
Enjoy yourselves this weekend, both on the rally and in the bar, and if this
is your first taste of the magic that is Mull I'll bet that by the time 6 months
have passed you'll be planning for it not to be your last visit to this
wonderful Isle.
Oh, and just to side-track….I have a theory that it never rains on Mull….Why?
Because every time it's raining it hits me sideways therefore it's got to be
actually raining about 2 miles out to sea…..think about it!
Cheers
John Cressey.
