23 June – Goodbye Lerwick, Hello Orkney

5:00 pm… We are sitting aboard the Hrossy Ferry.  We are still in Lerwick, but getting close to departure.  Our car is safely stowed and our seats are comfortable.  Soon we will be on our way to Orkney.  Today is a travel day, so we didn’t plan any specific activities.  We spent the morning getting packed up and doing a bit of “tidy up” in the apartment.  Dan also spent several hours loading the blog and uploading photos…. A bit of excess as I posted about 30 photos… our day yesterday was so grand we took over 200!

We said goodbye to Niki and drove into Lerwick a bit before noon.  First stop… don’t be surprised… Jamieson & Smith Wool Shop.  Kathy’s THIRD VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Ah the fun she’s had.  Dan went for a walk, although ended up talking with a resident who lived up the road for about 10 minutes… she was eager to show me her flower garden.  Many yards here have beautiful flowers. The part of hers I saw wasn't flowers but large bushes and trees, all of which she planted when she and her husband moved there... she was so proud, saying, "Everyone told me they'd never grow" in her beautiful Scottish brogue.  Her yard is the first photo.  

Next stop Emma and Louise Coffee Shop where we had coffee and also lunch.  A nice place with good coffee.  Next Kathy went to Loose Ends Yarn Shop and another store while Dan took a walk looking for the elusive Bain’s Beach which Kathy had read about as a location for sea glass.  I found two small beaches bounded by stone piers and buildings and a whole treasure of sea glass.  The first is Bain's Beach, the second rocky beach yielded a second large trove. 

I was glad I went looking... Kathy would not have been able to negotiate the steep, narrow, and slippery steps.  She was delighted.  For those of you who have watched The Shetlands on PBS, here is a photo of Jimmy Perez's (the dectective inspector) "home".  A resident told me the actual owner was getting tired of all the tourists knocking on his door wanting to see Jimmy's "home".  

Then to Tesco for groceries (esp. coffee and tea) and on to the Northlink Ferry site.  Since we were bound for Kirkwall, Orkney rather than Aberdeen on the mainland we had to wait quite a while to load… spent the time reading and talking.

Here we are, expecting departure and hoping for a quiet sea.  The day was lovely again, lots of sunshine, so perhaps our wish will be granted.  We depart in Kirkwall after 11 pm and head to Millhouse and bed.

8:00 pm… We had  a nice meal after we got going at 5:15… and before the ride got rocky!  DUMB!  After we got past the protection of Shetland to the west, the ship started rolling side to side with the waves.  Then we must have turned westward, because then the ship was going up and down, and sometimes shuddering.  We retreated to our seats, looking like college drunks, and I just sat with my eyes closed, eventually drifting off. I find it hard to believe that a ship this large can be tossed around by the waves… shows the incredible power of the sea.    It’s not too bad right now… hope it stays this way.