Boats.....

 

I get a good view from the back of the house of the various boats that sail into and out of Stromness harbour.  It was a particularly grey day when I took these photos, but there was some unusual activity as two new tugs had been delivered for Orkney Harbours.  They had arrived that day from Turkey where they had been built.  After sea trials and "snagging" they are now actively working in Scapa Flow. Unfortunately I missed them arriving but they are lurking in the photo above.  Two tugs, with their white decks above the green island......

The Hamnavoe ferry which sails to Scrabster on the Scottish Mainland was kicked out the harbour for their arrival!  Here she is in this photo.  Northlink - er.... pointing East....

And our wee island ferry was also kicked out of the harbour and lurked just outside for a while... Not sure why, but one of my neighbours is a skipper on the tugs and we joked that he needed all the room he could get to practice reversing the tug! Haha!

And one of the new pilot boats had escorted the tugs in too.  Orkney Harbours have certainly spent some money this year!  Though they make a lot of money from the oil terminal on Flotta, and in a normal year from cruise ships.  This is not a normal year....

Fishing vessels and dive boats in the harbour....

And a vessel that supplies the oil rigs and related industry sailing past....

Seals at Sandside

While Button and I were out feeding the hens we spotted some seals hauled out below the old lighthouse pier.  They were enjoying some Autumn sunshine and calm seas. I'd give a lot to know what Button was thinking!

Here's looking at you, kid!

A smiling seal....

Having a chat?

Blue skies, calm seas...

Sailing to Stromness

 

Enjoyed my first week of retirement!  And great excitement - I had a brief visit to Stromness for a flu jab. I haven't left Graemsay since the beginning of March fso it was an adventure.  There have been no cases of Covid-19 in Orkney for some months but I still prefer to be cautious, hence not leaving Graemsay.  But medical appointments are an exception so off I headed.  I'd chosen the quickest route on the ferry (15 minute journey each way) and was only in Stromness for an hour.  But as well as getting my flu jab I also managed a socially distanced coffee and cake outside my favourite cafe (Julia's) with a couple of friends I hadn't seen since March.  Ooh it was exciting!  

I was impressed with all the precautions on the ferry and about town, lots of mask wearing, social distancing, hand sanitiser etc and not very many people about in the area I was. I may have a couple more appointments in the coming months so will be less concerned about venturing forth than I was this time.  Though obviously the level of cases in the county also changes the level of risk, so we shall see.

Currently all the schools are back, shops open etc.  Though people are advised still to work from home and only travel if necessary but there are no restrictions on coming into or out of Orkney.  In Scotland we are currently in a "circuit-breaker" lockdown with restrictions on pubs and restaurants etc, All controversial of course but I don't envy any of the politicians or policy-makers having to make the decisions - even with all the science......

Anyway here are some photos from my sail to and from Stromness! Enjoy the voyage.....

Hoy High lighthouse, and the brooding Hoy hills.

Hoy High lighthouse 

A sunbeam shines down on Sandside - maybe Button is beaming down some friends?!  Hoy High lighthouse next door

Atmospheric shots!

Hoy Low lighthouse on the West end of Graemsay...

Hoy Low light at the end of Graemsay and the Stromness Beacon

Heading to town....

Stromness beacon and Golf course.....

Stromness - Hamnavoe ferry in the harbour

My favourite house - the grey and red building...

The harbour

The Red Shed - the former Lifeboat Station

Boats in the harbour...

And on the way home lots of boxes of groceries for Graemsay and Hoy (including my shopping from the Coop!).

Hope you enjoyed your sail to Stromness!

1st October - and 1st day of retirement!!

 

Yup!! Today is my first day of retirement. Whoo hoo!  It's not sunk in yet really....  and in a global pandemic "future plans" aren't really under consideration.  But I'm going to enjoy a slower pace of life (yup even for me!) and not feel as if I am permanently attached to a laptop. Though I have been extremely fortunate in having an interesting job as a health researcher and being able to work from home for the last 18 years!  Well before it was "fashionable"  or the thing to do.  Of course Autumn/Winter is fast approaching but I'm hoping to make the most of daylight hours and clement weather to go out and about on Graemsay (I'm still isolating as much as possible despite low number of cases in Orkney).

And with that tenuous link - here are some photos of a recent wander around Graemsay when there was a considerable amount of low cloud about!  Looking across Burra Sound towards Moaness on Hoy.

The old croft of Dean.....

The Hoy hills shrouded in cloud.....

Ward hill on Hoy beneath the cloud.... Dean from the old quarry.  Heather in bloom....

Barely a ripple on the water in the old quarry.... No dragons today though.....

Looking over to Hoy High lighthouse, Sandside, and the Community Hall (green building)

The old Manse on the right, and in the distance, again Hoy High lighthouse, Sandside and the Community hall....

Hoy in the distance, and the turf-roofed Scarratain in the mid distance...

Traditional turf room over flagstones - excellent loft insulation!

Seals hauled out on the skerries (rocks).  October is pupping season....

Seals with cormorants....

Looking over towards the Hoy hills....

The old sail shed at the bottom of Windbreck hill on Graemsay.  Orphir hills on the Orkney Mainland in the distance....

Old boat winch used to bring the yoles and other boats up above the high tide line....

Hope you enjoyed a slightly different tour of the island....