Back in the Saddle

We bid farewell to Kirkwall and made our way back north to the same mooring buoy we had left more than two weeks ago. Our stay in Kirkwall had been a pleasant one; some running repairs undertaken and many new acquaintances in and around the marina. The end of June was very busy with many boats arriving from Norway, Sweden and Germany many having to raft and all expertly done – at the risk of upsetting the entente cordiale the one French boat that arrived just happened to choose us to raft against and promptly broke our newly repaired guard wires; we will just say we were pleased when they left.

Still awaiting its 4-man crew to return was an ocean-going rowing boat. The crew have currently returned home for a break on their way to Iceland after a gruelling start to their challenge when at one point they had to row for 13 hours just to stay in the same place! See more at northatlanticrow.com.

Part II of our journey now beckons and the Hebrides our destination. On to Loch Eriboll at the NW of Scotland and if the weather is fair Cape Wrath then south and down the west coast. Cape Wrath does not mean Angry Cape: Wrath is a corruption from the Norse word 'hvarf', meaning 'turning place', the point where Vikings used to turn east for home or south to the Hebrides.