Weary travellers

The captain warned us that there was a lot of cargo to be loaded on to the ferry at Kirkwall on the way back from Lerwick to Aberdeen. It wasn't until we were delayed dismbarking at Aberdeen for 40 minutes that we fully understood what he meant. There were 7 'double-decker' livestock crates to be moved before our car could get out. They were mainly transporting sheep, but also a few cows. I dread to think how the animals felt during the rough crossing.

It was a grey, damp and murky morning as we came into Aberdeen harbour, but I really enjoyed watching the busy docksides and the colouful boats as the ferry was skilfully reversed between them to her quay. Memories of my days of working at the harbour (with sheilwill) flooded back!