What A Day!!!


And another trip out.

We have been trying to take a day off each week on Monday over the winter period, this invariably means that Mondays are either wet, cold, windy or a combination of all three.

This Monday proved to be the exception to the rule as we awoke to a corker of a day.

A trip to Kirkwall had already been planned as we have some guests arriving mid week who have asked for some crates of "Orkney Ales", (Just to try them of course).

This weather was the icing on the cake.

Camera in hand off we set for the bright lights of the town.

Our carriage for the day was the good ship "Varagen" .......and yes you've guessed it even more icing as.....................

We were allowed onto the bridge!!

Seats were supplied along with a nice cup of coffee, this is the way to watch the islands pass by at around twelve knots.

Lots of toys to play with serious pieces of equipment abound along the bridge.

No ships wheel here though, just a small joystick on the front of the cabinet.

First stop was at our neighbouring island of Eday.

The almost oily calmness of the water has been quite a rare thing so far this spring.

Fifteen minutes later and the big old V12 Caterpillar diesels were pushing us on our way once again.

It felt like cruising in/on the Med, warm sunshine and flat blue seas.......bliss.

A quick three hour mad dash around Kirkwall and we were back aboard vacating the linkspan for the Earl Thorfinn to take her turn to load up.

Daylight left us much later but the conditions stayed the same.


                          Stronsay Harbour By Night.....

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As I said, What a day!!







Until next time.................





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