A Hoy there Long Hope! For that is where we are – a little place called Long Hope on Hoy. I know, I know, you expected us to be heading to the Shetland Islands following our lovingly written passage plan. However – an American export has scuppered us – in the name of Hurricane Irene!
If you have been watching the news, unlike us, you will know that New York was ordered to be shut down due to Irene, and now she is heading north and we would have been likely to have caught the tail end of her as we were heading back down from the Shetland Islands, with 25-30 knots of wind predicted as a South Easterly – right on our nose. We felt it prudent not to spend 24 hours getting there, and probably double that time trying to get back, so we headed once more into Scapa Flow and have a little play.
Prior to this, Mike went for one of his little 10 mile strolls – and I sent my camera with him – this is what he saw as he looked down onto Stromness (thanks Mike)
Stromness
An enjoyable days sailing with a nice steady breeze and a little bit of horse play along the way.
We managed to goosewing, but, as we are missing a spinnaker pole, we used a tank instead!
You really need to be able to see the photos to appreciate this part of the day – but its a way of putting our skipper to bed – here he is saying his prayers,
then he settles down and says goodnight,
I love this photo!
then off he goes…….night night Tank!
We can’t hear him snoring from there thank goodness!
Anyway – just a bit of fun – as we do try, from time to time to have some fun on our Round Britain Experience!
Attaching ourselves onto the mooring buoy also gave us a bit of fun, starting with an interesting lasso by Mike, then an interesting exercise trying to untangle the line from the underside of the buoy.
Its now dinner time, and Mike is chef extrodinaire today! We are having chicken Kiev, pasta with tomato and marscapone sauce served with steamed carrots and green beans, followed by fresh melon for desert.
Catch you later!
Late at night now, and we have had a rocking time in Long Hope! We have been looking at a lovely book called “sailing Around The UK and Ireland” by a guy called Roger Oliver during this trip. Its interesting to see where he and Jalina (his boat) travelled, and it acts a little like a pilot book too – another source of information at least. He speaks very highly of Long Hope and writes “Yachtsmen will not get a better welcome anywhere than here in Longhope…… the village has stores, diesel, water and a first class pub and showers” Well readers, this was certainly a long hope for us! The only welcome we received was a dog barking!
We ventured out on the dinghy and looked forward to contributing to their economy, but struggled to find a pub. We saw a guy in his garden who informed us that one way, close by was one pub, and about a mile in the other direction was another. Not that we are lazy at all, but we were spitting feathers, so we chose the closest one with eager anticipation. This was The Royal Hotel. A pretty building which I had seen from the the boat as it was distinctive – the edges of the roof were stepped (I’m finding this hard to describe, so I shall try to draw it…..
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It doesn’t look so good now its on here – but it might give you an idea!
You get the general idea I hope. Anyway, we had been talking about eyesight and I had been bragging about my 20:20 vision and how much quicker I could see the mooring buoy with my “young eyes” then I spotted this house and thought my eyes were going funny, it all looked blurred. Anyway – this turned out to be one of the pubs.
I’m not sure why I’m telling you all this, its probably because this is more interesting than the time we had there. Its the 30th August and its closed – only one light at one window to be seen!
Undeterred, we decided to find the other pub, and headed in the direction our local guide had pointed us. We walked, and walked and walked, with a very long hope. Not a pub to be seen? Where could it be. Ive taken a picture now – can you see it here?
That must be the healthiest trip to a pub I have ever made!
Back to the boat and settle down ready for bed. No trip to The Shetlands for us – but we head to Wick tomorrow to begin our descent down our fine and fair country and head towards London! Goodnight!
