Diary Jul 2010

July 2010

Started the month with some enjoyable walks in the Sand & Skeld area; good weather most of the time.

Got the caravan set up at the end of the first week in July and spent a weekend there. This works fine as I am able to go back to the caravan for food and a rest and then go back out to walk again in the evening.

I have discovered that I am not very good at weather forecasting. Set out from the Bridge of Walls, thinking that the weather was looking much better, it had been raining earlier in the day. After about half an hour the rain started again and I got absolutely soaking but kept going to reach the next suitable stopping point. Back to the caravan for a dry set of clothes and set off again, by this time the rain had stopped and managed to get to the Walls Pier and the end of the third section of the walk. The third section of the walk was one of the longest and took in all the way from the Trondra Bridge to the Walls pier. Driving back home that night it was good to look out the car window and see a lot of the coast that I had already walked.

The next section Vaila meant a boat journey across and a morning walk. Vaila is a lot bigger of an island than I had ever envisaged but it is a very enjoyable walk.

I then had to organise my trip to Foula and having got that booked for the beginning of August, I got started on the next section from Walls Pier to West Burrafirth Pier. Completed that over two separate weekend trips. Still having to be careful with the ankle I twisted earlier on the walk as it can still be quite painful especially after coming down hill for a while.

The last walk of the month was in Papa Stour. It turned out to be a fine calm day and good walking weather. Managed to get over half of the isle walked and will have to return next month to complete the walk.

Still being asked when I hope to complete the walk; and the answer is still the same. I want to enjoy the experience of the walk and the sights without setting any deadlines although I am giving some consideration to changing the order of the walk so that I complete all the islands with summer weather.

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