Thursday - Lerwick and on

As we pull into Lerwick quay I espy this liner

Yes, you've guessed it, we leave the ferry, park up, and go in search of a bite of breakfast and the streets and coffee shops are heaving with passengers from the ship. Eventually we find a coffee shop that is only half full and a bacon roll and cuppa tea later we are ready to go. 

But go to where? We've deliberately chosen a campsite today as we know we really need to make up for last night's broken sleep, but we can't get there until 2pm. Shops aren't open yet, it's not 9 and anyway Lerwick is going to be teeming with the boat passengers. So we decide on a drive. 

But before we do, here's a coincidence I already knew about. My home town in Shropshire is quite small, so why is there a shop in Lerwick named after it? 

Right, a drive. Roads are good so I thought we'd head north and hug the coast, watching for dolphins, orca, otter whatever. Once off the main road I realised the problem in that idea. It is very narrow with passing places that are often a distance apart so needs full concentration from the driver. Only Liz's pair of eyes on the lookout then but nothing spotted anyway. But these are small back roads, just serving villages and hamlets, how come so much of the surface is pristine new rolled tarmac. The roads up here, where the weather is least kind to them are so, so much better than in the rest of the UK, proving it doesn't have to be as bad as we put up with.

OK, rant over, obligatory tourist comedy photo

I'll probably find a sign without other places on for a better one in the week.

I gather most of you have been feeling a bit damp around the ankles if you've been out walking this week. Would you believe that we've had just a couple of short showers all the while we've been travelling. Today it's a bitter wind but still only squally showers. Still they give nice rainbows

Half way round the drive my phone rings. Ham radio friends Tony and Nicky calling. Liz went to the Falklands with Nicky and the four of us plus three others came up here 14 years to play amateur radio at Sumburgh Lighthouse (don't ask!). Tony and Nicky enjoyed it so much that they stayed. 

So back into Lerwick to meet up for lunch, at a nice little café we'd never have found. Great to catch up. They've both had an assortment of jobs up here before retiring and are now still working by painting the community hall. Far more sense of community up here 

We leave and head off to the campsite but first a trip into the old capital Scalloway. Rather than me explain this monument I really do recommend reading about the heroic Shetland Bus during WWII https://www.scallowaymuseum.org/the-shetland-bus.html

The campsite is a delight. Fantastic modern facilities, fully equipped kitchen, clothes washing all inclusive of the not expensive £31 price. We are thinking of changing our plans and not street wild camping the next two nights but returning here. 

Here's yesterday's route, not sure how many miles driving