The Orca Hotel, where I stayed for my first time, is located in a very quiet, out of the way spot on the Shetland Mainland in Hoswick. After the long, 13 hour overnight ferry from Aberdeen which arrived 1/2 7 in the AM (that’s 7:30 for my Yank friends) and my very long hike through Lerwick the day before, I decided to take a wander and see what was to be seen without hopping the bus or making a big deal about sightseeing. The whole point of my travels is not to focus on the regular tourist attractions although seeing the must-sees when I can, as anyone who has followed these verbal rambles knows, it is to see, smell and learn. From my window the night before I could see the coastline and in most other scenarios, this could be a destination point in itself. It certainly is for the bird-watchers who frequent these outer lands.
I remember that morning when I checked the Wunderground weather site it listed sunset as: Sun does not set! And since this photo was taken at midnight…
So after a quick breakfast in the hotel kitchen where I could fix what I wanted, I hoofed it out. And despite the overcast and misty but never rainy day, it was sparkyly.
First off down to the shoreline and then along a path I spotted.
An oystercatcher at work
And a tranquil cove
And a Shetland pony giving an itch the what for against wood fence climbing steps. He really worked it!
I had to walk for a 100m down a driveway to get this shot back at Hoswick which might have been odd in the States but in Scotland the right to ramble is sacrosanct and perfectly legal to trespass in a non-invasive way.
In fact the owners were working outside and told me to snap a pic. I left them my card to follow up
This manner of wall building is probably common but I found it novel and will file it away for later. it seemed a light, easy way to build a wall and the rebar will make it solid.
Simple dirt filled forms topped with concrete. And when the house is finished the family will enjoy some awesome views. Although I’m guessing the glass takes into consideration the gale winds that winter brings here.
This is a fish receiving & processing plant that I didn’t bother to attempt to get to.
And I’m guessing this structure is 200 years old if a day.
The lichen along the top is neat
I photographed this place simply because I thought it interesting what with the rounded structure. Too bad the garage roof is rubbish otherwise the place would be great
Imagine my surprise the next evening when back from Sumburgh I saw this:
Not surprising to me anymore the man on the roof, when we got into conversation, told me he was heading to a northern part of the archipelago to watch his son play football (soccer) and offered that I could join him. This was one of the hardest “no thanks” I’ve uttered in a long time. I knew that after all my hill climbing at Sumburgh, I was at the point that if I didn’t just take the boots off and rest my legs I would not sleep at night due to pain. The Dirty Harry concept of a man has to know his limitations. I’m please to say that I’m getting better at that. But so kind of him to offer as we hadn’t even exchanges names yet.
I really liked the layout of this home. I always like the enclosed courtyard effect.
And when you come upon a plant that jumps to at you, you should try and catch it.
I had, as I frequently do, totally lost time. Not just time of day but time of week. It’s Sunday which means there was no store or cafe open on this remote edge of Europe so supper looked like some cheese and nuts in my cooler bag until John, the owner of the Orca suddenly pulled up. He said he was heading to the recycling place in Lerwick (Britain is big on recycling ) and offered to drop me at Tesco to grocery shop whilst he dumped the rubbish. My stomach smiled. Since there would be no other guests eating at the hotel the night I made John & I a spatchcocked chicken (no time to do the usual brining). This was he first time I ever stayed in an inn, b&b or hotel and cooked for the owner!
Delicious and quick at 10 minutes a pound and John supplied the wine and after dinner whiskey. We chatted until nearly midnight both enjoying the companionship. “And the crac was good.”
The leftovers made a pretty nice steuop (not stew nor soup but 1/2 way betwixt) two nights later with haggis, mashed tats, and black pudding on the side.
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