Part time tourists.

Couple of friends and myself escaped up to Westray for a grand Friday evening of laughter and conversation over a good meal and a few beers.

We then spent the morning (Saturday) walking along the cliff tops pretending that we could identify what the birds and wildflowers were. We even convinced ourselves we might know what we're talking about.

Then we went for lunch... and cake.

Followed by a tramp along Grobust beach, pretending that we could identify geological features and sounding slightly more convincing than we did about birds. We discussed the creative challenges and methods of capturing the spirit of the place and the pros and cons of dune management.

Then we went to visit a gallery... and ate cake.

Followed by a visit to another gallery.

Then we popped past a friends house for coffee... and cake.

Next we headed for Noup Head and tramped along higher cliffs, stared in awe at stacks and one day they will be stacks. Lay on our bellies and crept close to the edge to get a glimpse of one of the seabird colonies. Rows upon rows of guillemots, and razorbills, fulmars and kittiwakes. Impressive sight and incredible noise. We saw a few gannets but didn't have the time (or the energy) to hike on up to the big gannet colony this time. We did however have a close encounter with a Bonxie. Thrilling and slightly unnerving having a large bird circle closer and closer before buzzing us once as a warning... we took the hint and headed back.

To the chippy. Eaten by another beach before heading to the ferry.

When we got back to Kirkwall the crew asked if we would be happy for them to lift the cars off the boat as there were a few ferries coming in at the same time and we wouldn't have to wait so long to get off if they could use the other pier and the crane. Always a good spectacle for the tourists, even the ones that are just pretending for the day.