leaving the mainland

Leaving the mainland Just now im sat on the ferry crossing over to the Orkney Islands. It’s great to be back on water again – feels funny to be sailing on another vessel. The weather today is incredible – such a change since the past month of wind wind and wind…and abit of rain too. The ship is listing and my tummy is turning, forgot about the “motion of the ocean”. Am very excited to be heading over now – getting close to Norway. Pitched the tent at a lovely campsite in Stromness – it was very hot outside and the small tent was even hotter – it felt like I was in some tropical far off country.

Headed clockwise around the island. It was gradual slow hills which is nice and the colour’s were of a mixture of both heathery browns and lush greens. Hills shaped like tortoise shells. There were plenty of lochs and a camping group next to me were kayaking – hope they put their sunscreen on! Touring the mainland was so nice to do because I guess in your head you have a good scope an idea of scale etc’. It was so nice to not have the weight of the camping gear too. There is a big crafty textiles scene in the Orkney Islands – its very Nordic.

 I met a lady called Linda in a store whilst stuffing my face with chocolate that I was purchasing whilst eating – she invited me to her house in the next town for a cuppa and a toilet stop. Was nice to chat – she was actually from my neck of the woods in Yorkshire and had a crazy stone house. I love looking into people’s houses – to see the design and to stand in it to feel the place. She had lived an incredible life and was so much fun to listen to. As I was due to leave her cottage the scorching hot day turned bad and the wind blew hard…and cold. I eventually got back to Stromness – showered, ate like a maniac and slept. That is one thing about cycling – I just cant stop eating – non-stop from waking up at 7am then something more filling about 9:30 then big lunch around 12nn then afternoon snack at 3pm and dinner at 7pm and night time snack to keep my body processing for the heat. Food, food, food, food!