Blessed with a still day and a calm sea, we found ourselves at Loth terminal more or less as the sun came up. There was much low cloud, but the early light broke through where it could and lit the sea beautifully – we had several beautiful views of silvery sea on the drive to the ferry and Backaskaill, Stove, and the Eday sound all looked very lovely.
The Varagen was in service, and we were scheduled to come and go via Eday yesterday. Normally we take advantage of the deck space on the Varagen and travel outside in the fresh air, or go in the half deck cafeteria for the bacon butties. We were eschewing the bacon, so yesterday was the first time I had set foot in the passenger lounge. “Mostly too hot, and rather uncomfortable seating” was my verdict.
I knitted on my Water Socks in both directions and by the time I got home I had added half a leg, a heel flap and one third of the gusset stitches. It won’t be long now until I have a pair.
We arrived in Kirkwall to find it far colder than Sanday had been when we left. There was some low cloud and mist that brought with it the kind of chill that instantly seeps into one’s bones and saps all energy.
We coped with the chill by heading for a good breakfast, which we found at the new Smiddy’s Eatery. I do love an establishment that serves breakfast until a really civilised hour – in Smiddy’s case, 11:30 am. A pot of tea and a breakfast fry-up in a toasted bap was just the job and it fuelled us for the remainder of the day. I should think so – fried egg, crispy bacon (2 rashers), sausages, and mushrooms, enough to feed a small army.We bought some cheese for our anniversary dinner before we left and hit the street.
At this time of the year, Kirkwall is boarded up and looks like some kind of Wild West Frontier town or something. The reason is that the annual games of Ba’ are held at Christmas and New Year. It’s a rambunctious event and there is little in the town that is not protected from the expected heaving mass of testosterone that surges through the town, for what may be many hours. I tried to get a good shot of the shop windows all boarded up but anyone who knows Kirkwall will understand the hazard of attempting to step back and get a wide angle shot… so here’s one taken in a safer place.
For once, we had the opportunity to explore a few shops that we don’t normally have time to visit – I made sure that I got a look at the Wine and Wool shop of Tait and Style and cannot begin to explain how thrilled I was to discover their button drawers! No yarn was purchased, but I did spend some time admiring all the wonderful colours on offer. I also checked out the price of cones of New Lanark Mills Aran in RA Finn’s. That was interesting. More to come on that subject, I feel.
In Shearer’s I purchased some Oak Smoked bread flour (rolls currently rising) but very little else. In fact, in general our trip was a waste of time. We were looking for something nice for our Wedding Anniversary dinner tonight and found most shops had not yet restocked from Christmas. I am not surprised – we are a long way from anywhere.
While I was out I also tried to find some fun small things that could be related to the letter “E”. The exercise was largely fruitless but one or two things made me smile. I shall have fun putting my RAK parcel together after the holiday.
Finished in town, we walked back down to the harbour and towards the car, so that we could move it up to the supermarket car park. The harbour looked lovely  thin light and I tried to capture it, unsuccessfully, on the pocket camera.
Then I noticed something in the water – and was I glad that I had my camera out and open? Oh, yes, I was.
