Sunday 2nd July- Loved that it didn't really get dark, felt like we were much further north and it was nice to see the sun come up around Berriedale. Stopped at the Riverside in Wick at 5.30-kids playing football on the other side, how strange?! Most of the group was awake by then though and it seems like we'll get on well. Gills wasn't how I remembered it, but then the ferry hadn't started then. Was good to get a break from the minibus and some soup from the machine once we'd figured out how to use it! Crossing was really nice but didn't see puffins or dolphins. Visited the Italian Chapel-always wanted to go since my whisky project at primary school and Highland Park sent some tourist stuff. Amazing paintwork but spoiled a bit by a coachload of German tourists. Stopped at the Ring of Brodgar and met this Ray Mears type character who's going to come out and teach us fire making (very excited about that!). Funny how the stones seem much smaller than when I was there before (or am I just a bit bigger?) but it hasn't lost any of its magic. Ferry to Hoy was much bigger and faster than I expected, but a nice crossing again. Ingrid left us at a car park to walk in to the site. Good to get out of the minibus after so long, really woke us up. First view of Rackwick was amazing. Finally have reached the view from the window. Sharing a tent with Sarah and Morag.
Monday 3rd July-Femke the RSPB warden took us for a trip to the Old Man. Saw some puffins, didn't get spat at by fulmars! not great for vertigo sufferers! Had to be quite slow coming back up around the headland cos of my knee, but got there in the end. Saw a man agitate some Bonxies to get divebombed, don't know what was going on there. Stopped in at this little folk museum thing in a wee old croft that had some pictures of the old farm equipment and animals and stuff. Swam in the sea with Morag. Well sat down and waited for the waves to wash over us anyway. Wasn't that cold and some seals were watching us from a bit further out-Great! Organised D of E groups. I'm going with Morag and Sarah because we've been sharing a tent, and the artist boy Stewart.
Tuesday 4th July- Wow! Today was the best day so far, "Captain Caveman" came to visit us. Malcolm the fire guy as he was also called. He said that the red light I saw as a kid might have been this mysterious hidden island that the local mythology talks about so that was so cool for a little geek like me! He showed us how to make fire using the bow method, then we did it ourselves in our new D of E groups. We were the first group to make enough dust but then he made us start again, but still the first group to have a full fire. I think Sarah cried! Great experience, really emotional and spiritual in a primitive way. Oh and the tent fell down so we had to go and get mine, just as well it didn't happen tomorrow!
Wednesday 5th July - Day one of the Exploration! Set up camp at the Sandy Loch car park then up Ward Hill. Don't know if we chose a difficult route or just the steepness but my knee just stopped working really. Took ages to get there, had to keep stopping because of my knee so really annoyed with myself. Stewart was amazing though. I'd've gave up if he wasn't there I think. View at top was nice but was in a lot of pain back at the campsite. Stewart kept us all going again with (terrible!) whistling and singing Christmas songs. Lost at cards a lot.
Thursday 6th July- Woke up early still in a bit of pain but walked around the loch a while to warm it up then was ok. Took a while to find a good campsite but was nice in the end. Went to the Dwarfie Stane-nice walk up and view down to Rackwick. Didn't really feel like a tomb though. Phoned Gran from Moaness Pier to say Happy Birthday and text some friends to say Happy Graduation. Feels so strange now not to be at the ceremony, but I'd much rather be here. Tried to draw some pictures at the bays. Was really nice just to sit and take it all in. Looked along to the ruined Broch but didn't think we could get there without crossing someone's land. Sad that David hasn't been able to integrate with the group and felt he had to leave, but there's obviously more going on there. Rained for the first time tonight, so decided against going up to the skerries to watch the seals. Lost at more cards.
Friday 7th July-Moved camp again to Lyrawa Bay. Longest day carrying full packs so far. Met the others at Betty Corrigall's Grave and sat with them for a while-good to see them again and talked about going "home" to Rackwick. So pleased the group has worked together so well. Held a 2 minute silence at 12 for the London terrorist attacks of 7/7/5-seemed fitting in such a desolate place. Visited Lyrawa Hill viewpoint with the old military installations. Could see the importance of this island as the views were so wide and far ranging. Bay was a beautiful campsite, grass right down to the sea where we sat together for our meals. Rained again overnight but not much. Guess what-lost at more cards!
Saturday 8th July-Last day of Exploration! Walked in to Lyness. Rained really heavily for about 20 minutes about halfway there. Bless Sarah's optimism that it would miss us! Nothing like the smell of peat smoke in the rain! Visited the Heritage Centre in an old pumping station. General consensus that we could all take our dads here, but I found it really interesting. Oil drum was really cool, even if Morag and Sarah fell asleep. Would have liked to see the resonant spaces show. Cafe was really nice and we had cakes and ice cream. The old ladies spoiled Stewart as the only male in the building at the time, so he loved that. Was a nice way to end the trip away from the main camp. Met Ingrid's parents while we were waiting for her to pick us up. Stopped in Rackwick village to talk to Jack Rendall. It was great to hear his stories and a shame we had to leave when we did. He seemed like the real Old Man of Hoy to me, really passionate about living on this part of the island and bringing in younger people to keep the island alive. Think I'd take him up on the offer if I had a way to make a living. Born to be an islander I think I was.
Sunday 9th July-Spent the day doing bits and pieces on the Bothy. Seems a good way to say thank you for giving us shelter for our time here. Had our first connection with "reality" again when we listened to the football on Richard's radio. Good that Italy won. Was quite sad to pack away the tents but also nice to sleep in the Bothy. Nice to get our little presentation of certificates and presents for the leaders too. Really sad to be leaving in the morning.
Monday 10th July-Early start but so pretty to see the village and bay in the early morning lighting. Felt sad to be leaving but very sure it won't be the last time I'll be there. Stopped in at Flotta on the way which was nice after hearing Gran talk about it for so long. Stopped at Kirkwall, Golspie, and Pitlochry before dropping Derek off and returning to Edinburgh with it getting busier all the time. Think I prefer Orkney time! Was quite sad to see people leaving but most of the group were staying in Edinburgh so had time to chat a bit longer with them. Hope to see them at the ceilidh again since I had such a great time.