ORKNEY ADVENTURES :: DAY SIX
SERIOUSLY NOT TO PLAN !!!
Okay, its Tuesday and I have a plan, after staying in Kirkwall for four nights I am now booked in a Hotel on Westray for two nights. I hope to visit there and also a little island very close to it called Papa Westray. Now I could have got a ferry straight from Kirkwall to Westray, but after studying the Orkney Ferries timetables I spotted that on a Tuesday there was a boat that went out to North Ronaldsay, then called in at Papa Westray and returned back to Kirkwall. So a plan was hatched, three hour cruise through the islands, nip off the boat at North Ronaldsay, just to say I had been there, not having the time to spare to wait for the next boat on Friday, and then get off at Papa. I would have a quick two hours to look around and then get a little passenger ferry over to Westray. Simple !
Leaving Kirkwall, I explained my idea to the Boarding Officer and asked how long we would be in North Ronaldsay for ? " Only ten minutes, just as long it takes to unload this freight. So don't go far " he replied. After a lovely sailing we arrived at North Ronaldsway, I was first off the boat. A quick scoot around, a few photos, and I watched them crane everything off the ship and then got back on board. I had seen some seals hauled out on the rocks, so I made my way through the ship to the far side and got as close as I could to the seals. A few quick shots before we left, still not moved so I took a few more, taking more time. We had still not left so I made my way back through the ship and discovered that there had been quite a bit of freight at North Ronanldsay that had not been booked on, but they had been loading it anyway. I think this took them a bit longer than they had planned but finally it was all onboard, they packed the crane away. The ropes were cast off, they played, this is what to do when we sink tape, little did I know.
We moved away from the pier slowly, very slowly, I thought, we were hardly moving and then the engines revved up and the boat attempted to go full astern. Only we did not move, the crew started moving around doing things, the Captain tried using the bow and stern thrusters, stirring up loads of sandy water. But it was no use, we had spent too long at the pier, loading the freight, and as we moved away, the ship had grounded on a sandbank. We were STUCK !!!
The crew tried a few more things, including throwing a rope ashore and trying to winch the boat around off the sandbank. No joy, but I did get an interesting shot from inside of the upper lounge, looking out of the window, with the sea horizontal and the window frame pitched over as boat was winched over. In the end they gave up and said we would just have to wait for the tide to finish going out and then come back in and re-float us.
It was a lovely hot sunny day, and the view of the island was quite nice but it was not how I had planned to spend my afternoon. I spent some of the time talking to a young girl with a little toddler, they lived on the island and were hoping to go to Glasgow to visit family, we were the only passengers. North Ronaldsay looks a very interesting island and I think is worthy of another longer visit. It is as far North as southern Norway, but does have a milder climate.
We should have sailed at twenty to two, but I felt the ship suddenly pop up off the sand at about ten past five. They put the ship back along side the pier and the other two passengers got off saying they were going to fly out the next day. The crew checked everything was working and we had no leaks and we finally set sail for Papa, after six.
This gave me a problem, as the ferry from Papa to Westray had stopped running, I phoned the hotel, explained the story and cancelled my booking. I then had to find accommodation on Papa, I managed to book in at the Papa Westray Youth Hostel, not sure if there was anywhere else to stay.
On arrival at Papa. it felt like half the islands population had come down to see why the boat was late. I climbed off the ship, the crew manhandled Bumble ashore, and I went off in search of the Hostel. The hostel was brilliant, lovely large clean room, and their shop which closed at five was reopened well after eight so I could get some food and beer. I can highly recommend the place. Only thing was instead of a lovely meal in the Westray Hotel, I had to feast on Pot Noodles for tea.
After tea a quick wander around looking at this beautiful little isle.
So the day was very interesting but certainly not the one I had planned, no way!!!
The photo shows a Fulmar, taken from the ferry when it was actually afloat. There is another Fulmar in my other album.
http://365project.org/markp/Alternatively/13-05-2014
If you are visiting from my visit in 2015, click below to get back.....
http://365project.org/markp/365/30-06-2015
I am loving your adventure!