A Kirkwall Window

I woke up to beautiful sunshine today, but the forecasters were right. By the time we collected  at the slip,  clouds had gathered. There were drops of rain but nothing really worrying as I made my way to catch the bus to Kirkwall. I realised pretty quickly that there must be a large cruise ship docked there as the tourists buses were arriving and leaving Stromness harbour in droves. I counted 7buses from the ship spilling a multitude of passengers into sleepy Stromness. Added to the chaos  were 2 large buses collecting tourists from the Ferry Hamnavoe which had just docked. It was madness in motion with a yellow jacket orchestrating the scenario. My local bus could only stop at the entrance to the harbour area to collect my fellow passsengers and then squeeze past the interlopers.

Kirkwall in contrast was not besieged by many of the 2300 tourists  off the Viking Jupiter - they were all flitting round the Mainland on buses visiting the sights or wandering like lost sheep through Stromness. The weather while I was in Kirkwall was much brighter but now that I’m back at the flat it is beginning to live up to what the forecasters  promised- murk and rain.

I am being entertained this evening at the IainatCreel’s bolt hole in Orphir. He is the chef on this occasion. I will report back on the Michelin stars awarded.