In the early morning of Tuesday, 23 July 2002, we left King's Cross, London for Edinburgh. We then took a train from Edinburgh to Thurso, the northernmost town on Scottish mainland. We only arrived in Thurso in the late evening and stayed in Sandra's Backpackers, a tiny hostel above a fish and chips shop. Helpfully reminded on the correct ferry schedule, we planned to travel from Thurso to Orkney Islands on the following day.
On Wednesday, 24 July, with the great help of a gentleman of the hostel, we somehow managed to change the ferry tickets and get onto a P&O Scottish Ferry departing from Scrabster Habour. The wind on the ferry was so strong that one had difficulty to stand outside. Having passed Hoy, and just when the ferry was approaching the pier of Stromness, we heard Scottish pipes and drums, and then saw a band and also some Vikings welcoming the visitors. Scottish bagpipe music could be deeply moving. The words I jotted on my little notebook at that time were "eye wet wet". We left our backpacks in the youth hostel and strolled in the narrow lanes of Stromness.
On Thursday, 25 July, we saw even more pipers in the streets of Stromness. It was the Stromness Shopping Week - not an awfully attractive name but we would not forget the day surrounded by men with bagpipes and kilts. We went east for the archaeological sites around Stenness but the cattle farms were also highlight of the trip. The first stop was the Standing Stones of Stenness. When we were walking to the north for the Ring of Brodgar, a bus driver stopped for us and offered us a free ride. Just when we decided to leave the Ring of Brodgar for Stromness, we were caught off guard by heavy rain and got all wet. Neither of us had ever tried hitchhiking but there was no choice. Before long a driver stopped for us and took us back to Stromness. It transpired that the driver was actually not going to Stromness!
On Friday, 26 July, we went north and moved to Hyval Farm Bed & Breakfast. We went to the Point of Howana Geo, also known as the Bay of Skaill, to see birds, sea, the Row Head, the Hole o' Rowe.
On Saturday, 27 July, we wandered around Yesnaby to see rabbits, birds and shore.
On Sunday, 28 July, we stayed in Hyval Farm because of the rain. I read quite a few books on bird watching.
On Monday, 29 July, we continued our walk on the edge of the world, and discovered a puffin!
On Tuesday, 30 July, before we left Hyval Farm, I continued to read books on birds. We gave almost all the cash we had to Mrs. Spence to thank her for the big Scottish breakfast, for saving us in the rain and for her caring.
On Wednesday, 31 July, we stayed in Miller's House,Stromness.
On Thursday, 1 August in the morning we left Stromness for Scrabster. We stayed in Thurso for a while and then headed to Inverness in the afternoon. We had wanted to take a train from Inverness to London. It turned out that we had to change for coach when we were going south due to the flood. We only arrived London on Friday morning.
12 years thereafter, we returned to Scotland.
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