Island Hopping in the Atlantic: Orkney Islands Day Two

8 June 2017

Aloha all from St. Margaret's Hope in the Orkney Islands!

THE SUN CAME OUT TODAY!!   Yes it was only 45 degrees but what a difference when there is blue sky.

Photos below are of the glorious scenery on the island where we are staying- the mainland island where the capital city, Kirkwall, and  Stromness, a small town (with a ferry port) are located.  

Rock walls are a predominate feature on the island.  

The photos also show that there are very few big trees on the island.  Other than the first stop to see the beach, we didn't see any major trees on day two of our tour around the main island.

We drove to Stromness, a small town where there is a museum with interesting information about the Hudson Bay company- a major player in the Orkney Islands.  Also of interest is the connection to Captain James Cook, who came to the Sandwich Islands (which we know are the Hawaiian Islands). 

The City center of Stromness- 
Many houses along the water had their own boat docks.

After touring the small city, we drove to Skara Brad, the site of an archeological finding, 5000 years old.  In 1948, after a major storm, the land owner (aka Laird) saw that the damage to his property revealed an old settlement.  Turns out it was 5000 years old.  Fascinating.   And right next to the beach!

After we visited the 5000 year old site, next to the beach, we toured the Laird's home, Skaill House.  I could very easily live there aside from the wind and the cold.  And very few trees.  The Spode pottery was lovely!

After Skara Brae,  we proceeded on to a point with a bird sanctuary, brought of Birsay.  Actually a peninsula that- when the tide comes in becomes an Island.  I walks one set of many standing stones here one the island.  Very nifty.  

The two black dots in the photo above, I thought were puffins.  Turns out they are Oyster catchers.  But... similar to our bird sanctuary on Oahu at Kaena Point, the birds makes nests in the grassy areas.  

Our last stop of the day was to see the standing stones in Stenness.  There are MANY standing stones just standing in fields here!

We enjoyed a very fun, very sunny day.  We shall see what tomorrow brings as the weather report is for serious storms and gales winds!   Stay tuned.

Aloha and mahalo for reading!

C

Island Hopping: Orkney Islands, Scotland

7 June 2017


Aloha all from the Orkney Islands!

June 5:  I arrived in Edinburgh, which was lovely but so rainy and so foggy I have no photos to share.  I was only in Edinburgh long enough to wash my clothes, sleep and get in the car with my friend Judith to drive to Inverness for the night and then drive to John O' Groats to catch the Orkney Ferry.

June 6: Photos taken along the road to our car ferry in John O'Groats.  As you can see, it was a very wet drive, not much blue sky- although I did find a small patch of blue in the sky and tried to photograph it!  Also you can tell by our clothing that it was not 85 degrees- closer to 45!

The photo above shows the one patch of blue sky we saw all day.....

Below: Photos of the Judith, my friend from Scotland, at the ferry  to Orkney

Gills Bay harbor was small.  The Ferry held at least 35 cars and a few lorries.  Took 1 hour to go to St. Margaret Hope in the Orkneys.  Also a very very small harbor.   WHY can't we have ferries in Hawaii?????

We are staying in St. Margaret Hope, a small ferry port, with maybe 100 buildings.  Once arriving, we drove to the Italian Chapel, a chapel built, and painted by Italian prisoners of war.  The first two photos explain why the POWs from Italy built the chapel.  

The Italian Chapel and the wonderful tromp d'oiel paintings on the wall.

Then after the lovely chapel we drove to the Kirkwall, the capital city of the Islands.  The St. Magnus Cathedral is the centerpiece of the town; the Light of the North.  The church was founded in 1137 by a Viking in honor of his uncle Magnus.  Truly a lovely cathedral and is in excellent condition.  

We had a great day touring and the weather, while cold and very windy managed to stay dry until we returned to our car.  

More updates on Day 2 in the next blog.   

Aloha to all!