ISLAND HOPPING Day- Twelve
Today started early, up for 7 am, packed, bike loaded, said goodbye to Jean and on the road by eight. My first destination, Rapness Ferry Terminal, at the southern end of Westray. It was an odd sort of day, and stayed like that for the main part of the day. It felt warm and sticky, there was a slight sea mist, then it would turn into thick fog, then lovely hot sun would break through, then you could watch another huge bank drift across. Sometimes these banks of clouds would sweep over you and everything would disappear, other times they rolled past leaving you in bright sunshine, but unable to see nearby islands.
Arriving in Kirkwall, I cycled over to the car, got changed and packed the bike away. I had one more island that Orkney Ferries visit to go to this trip.
I went back over to the harbour to catch the ferry over to Shapinsay.
I had a few minutes before the ferry left, and used the time first to phone Pentland ferries to get a reservation on their afternoon sailing. Yes, I had the booking, but it was going to be a close thing. It is a 25 minute drive from Kirkwall to St. Margarets Hope, on a good day. My ferry sailed from St Margarets at 14.45, last check in was 14.15, my ferry back from Shapinsay would arrive back in Kirkwall between 13.55 and 14.00. This was going to be very interesting.
I also had a few minutes to get the shot above, this is Kirkwall harbour, you can see a couple of local fishing boats, the Lifeboat, and the Pilot boat. To the left of the shot is the white superstructure of the Shapinsay ferry.
Arriving on Shapinsay, I had a look for the seals that are often hauled out on the rocks next to the pier. However it was high tide, and I could only see one, quite away out in the water. I had nearly two hours to walk on Shapinsay, I got a sandwich from the shop, ate it by the sea, still no seals. Being on foot I could not get that far, but it was a very pleasant walk. I had a quick coffee and got back on the ferry.
Arriving into Kirkwall for the second time today, I ran over to the car and set off south. I had to cross all five islands that form the heart of Orkney. Fortunately apart from a very slow tractor, and a couple of banks of really thick fog, the road was fairly clear. I arrived late for check-in, but as I had arrived before the ferry had got in, it was okay.
We arrived at Gills Bay, back on mainland Scotland, near John O'Groats, just after 4.00 pm.
I had a brilliant, trouble free journey home, 500 miles, a brief pit stop at Aviemore, and home for just after midnight.
Driving back down through the Lake District, there was the most amazing lightening storm, but no rain.
I also crossed the Black Isle, north of Inverness, not technically an island, only in name.
I think this was quite a successful island hopping trip.
Islands Visited; Eight
Total Visited; Twenty Three
Ferries Used; Four
Total Used; Thirty Two
Ports Used; Six
Total Different; Twenty One
Here is my list of Islands.....
several visited more than once......
South Ronaldsay
Burray
Glimps Holm
Lambs Holm
Mainland
Graemsay
Hoy
Eday
Flotta
South Walls
Huanda
Sanday
Start Point
Stronsay
Papa Stronsay
Rousay
Wyre
Egilsay
North Ronaldsay
Papa Westray
Westray
Shapinsay
Black Isle * (isle by name only),
A total of 22 or 23
I had hoped to get to Brough of Birsay, a small tidal island on the north west coast of Mainland, but my free time never co-incided with the times it was possible to walk across there.
If you wish to see the rest of todays shots just click on the link below..........
http://365project.org/markp/Alternatively/03-07-2015
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