Friday 18/08/06

Today dawns bright and sunny, but mid-level cloud rolls in at lunchtime. It is quite hazy. The elderly couple leave on the 12.45 ferry. No other guests in until tomorrow evening. Mrs B heads off to Shawbost to meet up with some relatives from the States. While she is gone, I go for a walk around town. First to no 1 pier where the fishing boat India Roger lies tied up. Then along North Beach to the Baltic bookshop for the papers and a book on the island of North Rona, 70 miles north of here. It is sunny and warm as I walk up Bayhead to the YM, which is being taken down. The building contains asbestos, so a specialised company is at work to take the nasties out. Asbestos can cause pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal lung condition. I carry on to the Golf Course, then up the Bayhead River to the Water Wheel. From there, I proceed west to the Marybank Lodge. A wide, tree-lined track leads back to the Castle and the town. I make my way back to Newton along Keith Street after buying a bottle of pop in the Bayhead Store. Mrs B has meanwhile returned from her pilgrimage to Shawbost. Unfortunately, the timing is wrong and the relatives were not around. They are due to depart on the 7.15 ferry tomorrow morning. The driver maintained a steady 20 mph all the way over, so you can imagine how long it took to cover the 18 miles there. The sun stays out until sunset at 9pm, in contrast to the rest of the country which is having severe thunderstorms. Dinner consists of lasagna (with macaroni instead of pastasheets). Mrs B is very tired and goes to bed at the unusually early hour of 9.30. As you can see, I'm still here, tapping away at 11.35pm. I also watched the BBC's Restoration program, which featured a building that I have personally visited, although not inside. It is the 1788 Dennis Head lighthouse on North Ronaldsay, Orkney. I don't think it stands much of a chance, but wish the community well. I have fond memories of my two stints there in 2004 (read back in the Northern Trip-The Start journal entries from 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 September 2004). North Ronaldsay only has 60 inhabitants and it's in decline. It only has 1 ferry a week, but does have a daily airservice. Do read the rest of the NT-S journal; although it has no pictures I'd like to think it's still a good read...