Island hopping

 July 1st

 I'm still suffering, I was a fool to think I would get better in a day! So back to painkillers again, and light meals. With so little time on the island, I have to grin and bear it.

The Toft ferry to Yell wasn't until 11.20 am. From the overnight stop, it was but a 10-minute drive. Of course, our arrival was much too soon and a row of cars were already waiting for the earlier ferry at 10:30 am.  We parked in a waiting lane and soon the cars started boarding. Then surprise, surprise, we were beckoned to come forward, they had room for us at the back.

It was roughly a 20-minute crossing to Yell, I wanted to go to the upper deck but decided to wait until after we paid for the ferry. Because we were last on, stood to reason the chap collecting fares wouldn't come to us first so I never did get to go on the viewing deck.

Once we disembarked, it was a 30-minute drive to get to Gutcher port for the onward journey to Unst. We dallied and arrived just in time to see that ferry leave.

 

We had to stop to admire the views.

The ferry service runs continuallly so there was only a short wait before getting onto the next one. Only 6 cars, 1 lorry and us, obviously not a busy time of year for them.

Took only 10 minutes this time, landing on Unst we stopped at the first convenient place for lunch and take stock of where we would go to first.

As been our lot since arriving on Shetland, the weather deteriated rapidly. Mist rolled in, visibility was bad, hardly sightseeing weather. A white figuer standing by the side of the road caught my attention. I yelled at Ian to stop and thankfully no cars behind us. He had failed to see what I had but I made him reverse back. And there she was looking like a white apperition, The White Wife of Watlee.

 We drove to the Saza Vord Space Port. Ian was very interested in seeing quite how they were going  to launch the UK’s first vertical rocket into orbit. This from BBC News

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted a ‘range licence’ to the Scottish spaceport, which will allow the company to control the sea and airspace during launch.

It will also ensure a clear and safe path for any rockets heading into space and ensures the safety of those on the ground.

And this from SCOTLANDIS

It will be the first fully-licensed spaceport in Western Europe able to launch vertically into orbit.

It permits up to 30 launches a year, that will be used to take satellites and other payload into space.

The site, which is the first spaceport in Scotland, has a number of launch operators around the world currently developing rockets

  The lanes on the Unst were narrow with passing places, we found what we were looking for, turned into another lane and found our way blocked by barriers. Blast! No public was allowed on site. Hmm, we should have realised how sensitive this development was. A disappointed Ian, and, in a way so was I, a sign had been seen for  Hagdale Horse Mill, yep, that would do as an alternative. Again down a narrow lane, we were scuppered because the carpark at the end was being dug up. We managed to turn and then saw the sign that mentioned a 3-mile round hike to the quarry. Even if I had been able, (Diverticulitis) the wind and rain would stop even the most hardy of walkers. Shame really because it sounded interesting. Never mind just another thing struck off the list.

With nothing much to see due to the conditions, we decided to find somewhere to stop overnight. At a place called Burrafirth overlooking a bay was ideal. Right next to the start of Hermanus Nature Reserve, could this be somewhere for us tomorrow? We did have some animal life turn up, it was only sheep though. 

 

 

The view from where we parked were pretty decent, well what we can see of it anyway!