Groan, MB damaged again!

 July 7th

After another quiet night in Kirkwall car park,  we planned to head for Hobbister Hill and an RSPB site. Rain was once again in the air but this time very intermittent, with more dry periods than wet. First though, our toilet had to be dealt with. Last night our cassette light came on, Ian changed the cassette and then looked online for a place where it could be emptied. Wow, all the campsites in Orkney are really expensive. £30 plus, and just to empty the loo, well that's expensive!  We decided to drive to Kirkwall Campsite and be cheeky asking if we could use their facilities for a small fee. And what a result. They were more than happy and charged  £5 for the privilege. Let's hope those further along the island will be just as obliging.

At Hobbister Hill we parked, grabbed waterproofs, backback, sticks and drink and followed the path to a closed gate. A directional sign pointing to the right with a figure of a bird to show where to go but oh, what a path. Rugged and very muddy with long puddles stretching right across. Other people had managed to climb a small bank of heather and made a top path for us to follow. We just had to get up to it!

Ian went first and with the help of sticks, I too scrambled up. But that path was not easy either. Very narrow in places and sloped away toward the bottom path.  We followed as far as we could, but when we met a ravine, had to turn back. Younger more able-bodied than us had managed to get down. Not us, far too steep and slippy. So we never did get to the reserve, mores the pity.

So we back tracked to MB and once more set out, this time to the Round Kirk and Earl's Bu.

 The Round Kirk was built around the remains of Orkney's only surviving medieval round church. This taken from St Nicholas Center

This round kirk, dedicated to St Nicholas, is thought to have been built about 1120 by Earl Hakon. On his return from pilgrimage to Jerusalem, it was built to atone for ordering the death of St Magnus on Egilsay around 1116. Inspired by Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it is Scotland's only circular medieval church. It lasted until 1756 when much was pulled down to repair the adjacent newer parish church—now gone without a trace.

 

 The Earl's Bu
Earl Haakon Paulsson built his farm in the 12th century with, what was thought to have been, a drinking hall. You can see what was left of the foundations.

One place to aim for was Maeshowe. It is one of the largest Old Norse Neolithic chambered cairns in Orkney. It was to try and book tickets because we had been told it could very well be booked for the next two weeks. Anyway on the way another of the burial mounds, Unstan came into view. We stopped, walked to the mound, and I looked through the small door and decided it was not for me! I'm not claustrophobic but the passage was long, narrow and would have meant stooping very low. I didn't think my back or knees could handle that. 

 

So I did the next best thing and sent Ian in to get pictures! These are his photos.

 

And mine

It had made me wonder about Maeshowe. When we did get to the center I asked the question about the length of the passege, it was even longer than Unstan chambered cairn so I dont think I will be doing it.

Anyway, to continue, you may have wondered when I would get to the post heading. Well, as we left along the lane towards the main road from that cairn, the road slopped up with a nasty ridge at the main carriageway. Ian accelerated slightly to get over the ridge and concentrated too much on that procedure to notice the pillar at the side. As he turned the wheel, the corner was cut and a horrible scraping, crunching sound was heard. A few swear words came out, the hazard warning lights put on and he leapt out of the driver's door to assess the damage. He came back saying it didn't look to bad, hmm, I was not convinced seeing as the wheel guard flapped in the breeze. When we did finally stop to have a good look I pointed to the marks on the door. Ah, now he was more concerned! "They may come out with T Cut" said he. Stopping for the night overlooking Harrays Loch, not only did he manage to secure the wheel guard with a bolt and nut but also managed to get most of the marks with that T Cut. He was one very lucky fellow!

 Flying over the loch was an Osprey. You can see from the photo how far we were from the water so trying to get any photos were nia on impossible. These 4 were the best of a bad bunch.

Curlew trying to see it off

Other wildlife