The worst part of traveling on Shetland is driving on the left-hand side of the road and scaring ourselves silly every time we come to an intersection and have to turn right.
D. is doing all of the driving because I can’t drive a manual stick shift. The last time I tried to learn I burned out the clutch in D’s pickup so he has given up trying to teach me.
Besides, I would be terrified driving on these narrow, winding roads. We drove up to Lerwick yesterday in a line of traffic and D. did his best James Bond impression driving the 30 miles north. Especially since we missed our turn twice.
But … we arrived out in the country just in time to join our group with Sea Kayaking Shetland for a guided half-day excursion on the North Sea from Quorff to Galberwick..
The tour company is run by Angus, his wife Wendy, and daughter Rosalind. We loved them immediately. They gave us rubber pants and hooded jackets and we all suited up to go kayaking in the rain with 4 other women. One of them lives in Scotland, and is married to an American who grew up in a town 5 miles from where D.’s mother lived for years in northern New Hampshire. It’s a small world after all.
After some training Angus and Rosalind led us out into the North Sea to follow the coastline north for 5 miles through rocks and caves and inlets. The photos below are courtesy of Sea Kayaking Shetland and we’re taken by Angus. My camera was tucked safely into the front pouch of my jacket and never came out.
Fortunately, our Air B&B was ready for us to check in after so we could dry off before dinner. It was an adorable addition to a home just on the edge of Lerwick and our host even bought us fresh strawberries and fruits to welcome us.
We decided to drive to Scalloway for dinner because everything closes In Lerwick on Monday nights. Scalloway is Shetland’s ancient capital and so cute and colorful.
The Hotel Scalloway serves gourmet meals and we had fresh Halibut and scallops for dinner. D. confused our waitress by asking for a cup of brewed coffee. She had to ask the chef for directions.
Afterwards they literally gave us the key to the Scalloway castle, the former estate of Patrick Stewart, Earl of Shetland who was not loved. Next door the museum still has the ashes of the last witch he burned!
