Talented Buskers

It's been a different kind of day.  We breakfasted early and lightly as we were taking part in the Kirkwall parkrun.  Kirkwall is about twenty four minutes' drive from Stromness and it was already very warm by the time we reached the run venue and parked up.  The course was two and a half times around the Peedie Sea and was most enjoyable.  Afterwards we chatted with another runner Karen who had sadly lost her husband last year and was visiting the parkruns they had planned to attend together.  It was a bittersweet tour for her.  Perhaps we will see her at Myrtle one day.

We walked over to the very impressive Sports Complex and enjoyed a cuppa in the company of two more runners who were holidaying like us and had run at Bressay like us, last Saturday, then we walked in to the town for a look around.  It was very busy and there was a Community Picnic on the grass in front of St Magnus Cathedral with these two talented buskers entertaining the families.

We managed to squeeze in to a café on the main street for delicious carrot soup and cuppas and then took a look at the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces.  There were two very noisy flat bed trucks doing the rounds of the streets several times, containing a hen party and a stag party, all of them covered in treacle and feathers - a local custom apparently! They have to bathe in the sea before they are allowed to get a shower.  

On the way back to Stromness we had a short walk around the edge of Waulkmill Bay which has a very shallow depth being enjoyed by swimmers and paddlers.  Then we called in at the Round Kirk at Orphir before heading back.

And now we are off to the Ferry Inn once more.  We are working our way through their menu.