Day 14 (3rd July 2022)

 Going to get this one in early for a change as I'm knackered. We took the overnight ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick (with a pet-friendly cabin at vast expense - they know people like us will pay through the nose) and to be honest I find sleeping and travelling an impossible combination. Best bit was the hot shower.

We had breakfast on board - I really wanted to hit the ground running, as the Shetland Islands are a bit more spread out than the Orkneys and some of the Germinal CCXXIV places involve both multuiple miles and ferries. But I reckoned I could get at least two in before our check in time at the campsite in Skeld. The weather really felt like your average early November day as we drove through deserted countryside to stop #31

VIDLIN VOE

Now it's difficult to know exactly where is being referred to here. As far as I can make out, "Voe" is an old term for village, although some maps have "Voe" as a body of water. Anyway, we stopped in Vidlin, which isn't even a hamlet really, and gave it due diligence!

Next up was a drive down (or up, I suppose as we were still heading north) the peninsular to get to Lunna Head, as this would give us the best possible view of stop #32

OUT SKERRIES

This was another challenge to be honest. The road stopped between a cemetery and a very grand house. We parked and got out and walked up a steep clifftop path, through a field of ewes, lambs and unfeasible amounts of sheep manure, until we made it to the headland. The wind was icy and wet, and Guy suggested that maybe I shouldn't change into Germinal T just this once ... I can be a stubborn old bugger sometimes and change I did, crouching down beneath a little rocky outcrop to try and get some shelter from the gale that was blowing!

In the distance, you can (just about) make out the group of islands that form the most easterly part of the Shetlands. Only three of them are inhabited and only 34 people live there.

You have to admire these people who really do live on the edge.

Guy convinced me that I might need the help of a local to complete the rest of the Germinal CCXXIV places in and around the Shetlands so we stopped off in Lerwick to visit the Tourist Centre where I explained my quest to Robin. He took it all in his stride, giving me the best places to go to achieve my goal, and to where we could get a hearty meal in between stops! He also advised booking the necessary ferries ASAP, as there was every chance that I could get stranded if I didn't plan ahead.

We finally arrived in Skeld early afternoon so we had time to attend to the dull side of life on the road - laundry, refilling water and trying to make sense of the chaos that the inside of the Alphard has become.

Definitely an early night tonight although I believe it only gets dark for about 90 minutes here at this time of year!

Allons-y 

Douglas Germinal CCXXIV Brain over and out