Shapinsay and Gin

Today was meant to begin with a short ferry trip from Kirkwall to Shapinsay, an easy walk along the coast and a picnic for lunch. The weather was kind and the ferry trip idyllic. 

The easy walk along the coast turned into a weary slog because the path was through a boggy cow paddock. We picked our way from tussock to rock to tussock. We climbed gates and stiles. The only success was down to Lyn who spotted a seal.  The seal swam alongside our route for some time, no doubt wondering what on earth we were doing. Various birds were spotted too, including a pair of white swans. 

We found a less damp spot for our picnic and then tramped along drier tracks back to the ferry. The sun was out and we may have napped a little.

Back in Kirkwall Lyn and I joined our fellow traveller Anna (from Kansas City) in a tour and tasting at the local gin distillery.  The eager young fellow told us it was his first tour. It showed. He kept forgetting his lines and once we got to the distillery he was remarkably vague about the gin making process. Thankfully a more senior figure was there to answer our questions.

Back in the bar, he made us each a very good cocktail. It then became clear that he was very interested in two possibilities: getting to know Anna better and making a trip to Australia. He might one day succeed in the latter but not the former.