7th August – We’ve been pleased with our spuds this year, this was todays harvest, some nice tatties.
We’ve had a lot of nice lettuce and spinach but the beetroot and turnips are still small. The carrots are slow but coming along nicely.
8th August – It’s hard to tell here but there are two boats tied together. I assume one has had some engine problems and is piggybacking a lift home. A lovely evening for it though.
9th August – I couldn’t resist posting this. Scotland’s dodgiest Greggs is in South Street, Perth!
14th August – Stromness Museum reopened yesterday after lockdown closure in April. It was my first day on duty today, lots of new practices to be implemented. Custodians now sitting in a perspex box for protection.
Visitors have to book online for a 45 minute slot per hour, with a maximum of ten people per slot. We’re using a system called ArtTicket which records track and trace information. Custodians then have 15 minutes to run round wiping down door handles, handrails, etc. before the next contingent arrive. The shape of things to come?
17th August – H captured the amazing colours on one of the piers today. Amazing the effect lichens, etc. can have on stone slabs that are constantly exposed to a salty environment.
24th August – Last night, our old pals, Rob and Petrina, stepped off the ferry from Scrabster to begin their first visit to Orkney.
After a good overnight rest following their long journey, we set off to see as much as possible in the semi-locked down islands.
On Day 1 we concentrated on the neolithic sites of West Mainland and, after visiting the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar, no trip is complete without seeing Skara Brae. Although officially closed we managed to sneak in for quick look around.
After circumnavigating West Mainland, we rounded the evening off with a nice meal in the Ferry Inn in Stromness.
25th August – Day 2 saw us visit Kirkwall, the town is fairly quiet at the moment so we had a leisurely stroll around taking in the Earl’s and Bishop’s Palaces and some “quiet contemplation” in the Cathedral. Our walk took in the harbour to admire the boats.
Rounding off todays exertions we dined in the Merkister Hotel in Harray, a lovely setting on the loch’s edge.
26th August – For Day 3 it was the turn of the South Isles, we headed straight down to Burwick and had lunch at the Skerries Bistro, which specialises in seafood.
With appetites sated we set off back north to see the sights en route. It’s always important, when in Orkney, to say hello to the seals. So we stopped at Windwick to say hi to this socially distanced trio.
There’s some nice scenery at Windwick, with rock stacks, tall cliffs and shorter ones too (geddit?)
Popped into the Italian Chapel, it was very quiet and we had it to ourselves for most of the time.
Early evening saw us having a quick tour of the world famous Stromness Museum with Rob enjoying more quiet contemplation on the Museum pier.
27th August – The few days of the visit have gone far too quickly and R & P have caught the 11 o’clock ferry back to Scrabster.
H & I hope, that now they know where Orkney is, they will be able to find us again and come back for a longer stay.
30th August – When we were at the Skerries on Wednesday, we noticed a young woman and her dog in a rather cramped Fiat Punto.
Well, we met her in the Stromness campsite today. It turns out that she is a doing an MA in botany at Uni in Edinburgh. She was on a budget tour of the Highlands and Islands and had converted her little car as, perhaps, the smallest camper ever.
Scapa Views 
We had such a wonderful time with you both and we won’t forget Orkney – what a lovely record of our time with you. Thanks so very much for your hospitality and friendship
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It was our pleasure!
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