We began the 2-day trip back to Glasgow today, and the day started with a setting moon, glorious sunrise, friendly chicken farmer at the ferry and smooth sailing to Kirkwall.
The tweed hatted farmer was on his way to Mainland for new poultry stock as he supplies Sanday with most of its eggs. The global avian flu pandemic has touched this Sanday farmer, and he is trying to bolster the health of his flock.
The Byre at Ayres Rock Hostel on Sanday.
We turned in our trusty rental car at Kirkwall. What a lifesaver this vehicle has been for us, hauling provision and treasure, shelter from the wind, transport to remote sites. Before turning it in, we filled it up. This price equates to $5.60 per gallon.
We chatted with a professional vagabond at the bus stand while waiting for our ride to Stromness. He is retired and dog sits for people across the globe. He also attends music and dance festivals and competes in swing dance competitions. So many ways to live a life.
Stromness is an old town with "a shambles" like main street full of pedestrians, cars, homes and businesses. The streets were wide enough for one car, so when one approached, we had to duck into a shop dorway or close or alley to save our lives!
I took the photo above as the street name interested me; the flag flying in the back is the flag of Orkney.
We eventually boarded the Northlink ferry to Scrabster on mainland Scotland. Compared to the ferries we've been on, this one is a cruise ship! Cushy seats, restaurant and bar, gift shop, kids' play area.
A view of Stromness as we left the pier.
We sailed around the western edge of the Isle of Hoy. One of its famous attractions is the Old Man of Hoy, a sandstone sea stack.
The ferry arrived in Scrabster and we had to scramble to find a ride / taxi / bus into Thurso a few miles away. As luck would have it, a family with three children had been on the same travel path as us since the Sanday ferry. They were able to arrange a taxi, but it would only carry four of them, so we hailed the single passing cab and shared it with the mom.
Today was full of these extraordinary encounters; I always enjoy chance meetings of this kind and the opportunity to glean shared experience with another.