Hot and Bothered


We spent five days, back in Kirkwall, with shallow fronts giving us wind and rain.  Firmly tied to a sheltered pontoon, this felt rather snug.  While we enjoyed these cool conditions, weather reports from all points south talked of heatwaves and drought.  The locals assured us that this is has been an exceptional summer in Orkney too, with temperatures approaching 20° C at times!

For the last few days, our engine, normally so reliable, had been starting more reluctantly than usual.  A test start now failed completely.  I looked over the electrics but failed to find a problem.  We called in a local marine electrician, who soon detected a broken wire to the solenoid (but still touching, so giving some voltage).  A new terminal on the wire and all was well.  I then added a cable tie to prevent the wires vibrating and breaking again.

Kirkwall from Half Way Up Wideford Hill
We walked up the local Wideford Hill, which gave us sweeping views back over the harbour and across Scapa Flow.  

Scapa Flow from Wideford Hill

On the far side of Wideford Hill is a chambered cairn (burial chambers in a mound).  As is usual around here, on Historic Scotland sites, one can simply open the hatch and climb inside.  There was even a torch provided, although we had brought our own.  And there you are, standing in a stone tomb, 5000 years old, which is rather special.  The bones have been removed, incidentally!

Inside the Cairn - Chambers Off for Burials
Our long walk up the hill became even longer when we tried a “short cut” to get back.  After wading through heather and hummocky grass, we eventually got back to a farm track and so home.  We should have simply returned the way we came.  We also should have taken some water because it was a sunny day with very strong winds.  We were tired and thirsty by the time we got home to Rapport.

Wideford Hill Antennae and Cruise Ships in Kirkwall Harbour


After five days in the marina, we were making friends and sharing meals, which was lovely, but we were itching to be away again.  On the 1st August we sailed, in gentle fair breezes, to see more of the northern Orkney Isles.  25 miles later, we picked up a visitors buoy in Papa Sound, off Stronsay, where we spent a peaceful night in the sheltered bay

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