Yesterday we got up and drove to a remote area called Eshaness, at the Northern end of the Shetland Island. We met a charming Shetlandtonian named Drew, who also happened to be a retired geologist. As we walked miles on the craggy coastline, he gave us a short history of the Devonian period about 400 million years ago and how this island actually was forming at the equator! We saw many cliff dwelling birds and of course, lots of sheep. It was an uncanny beautiful day with no wind and sunshine. And it was our last day on Shetland.
We got up early and left Brae to start the journey home. We have been gone one month and seen and experienced so many things Scottish. We have taken 7 flts, 4 ferries, a train, and countless vans and busses. We’ve taken the high roads and the low roads and met some of the friendliest people on the planet. The Scottish folk are fun, hard workers diligent and resourceful, especially on the outer islands where they have depended for centuries on their own. The weather was rough for summer, with lots of rain, but we were prepared and really used our rain gear. It was never cold, and we had surprise days of sun every now and then.
We loved: Scottish ale, the people, the Highland cows, the castles, the Lochs, the history, Sticky puddling, haggis, and even blood sausage, the hiking, courteous drivers, cake fridges, and tea.
We didn’t much care for the fish and chips, the coffee, no wash cloths, early morning wake-up calls, single track roads, the wind….. and the wind.
Our favorite place was the Hebrides, even this it was the roughest weather. The cities were crowded with tourists but so much history in those old stone buildings.
We are in Edinburgh again and will fly out early am. As they say in Scotland: Haste Ye Back.
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