This morning started out with a ride with a few folks in a small boat to another small uninhabited island north of Iona – Staffa.

Why the hour-long boat trip? To see an island that formed about 6 million years ago, the result of volcanic activity that left behind vertical lava tubes of basalt that formed hexagonal pipe shapes as they cooled.

The vertical pipes stack together like a series of rods or staffs (Staffa) but they also turn and twist and break off or erode into stepping stones.

There is path along the rock wall next to the waters edge to a cave in the rock pillars called Fingals Cave, named after one of the giants of Scottish folklore.

The island is also a nesting and breeding ground for puffins, but unfortunately they have done their business, made more puffins, and have moved on to warmer climes as of the end of July.

But there were some seals and dolphins to be seen along the way.

The boat ride back from Staffa was a bit rougher as there is weather moving in with 40 mph wind gusts beginning to push along the big rollers off the Atlantic.

The island of Iona has also been the home of St. Columba and there has been an abbey here since he arrived around 560 from Ireland. The reason for his leaving is not fully known, but may have involved some involvement with conflicting groups. The abbey began thriving. Unfortunately the Vikings took some liberties with raiding the abbey during the 600-800’s but eventually they settled down and embraced more Christian ethics.

Fun fact: The illuminated Book of Kells was actually completed on Iona at the abbey, it was just moved to the abbey at Kells around 600 for safekeeping from the pillaging of said Vikings.

Around 1200 the Benedictine Order revived the abbey and its buildings and most of the present-day structures date from that time period. Not surprisingly Iona is know as a “thin place”, where the earthly and the spiritual can be felt to co-mingle.