Last day? Who knows?

Dan’s perspective:

Got up this morning and headed to the ring of Brodgar. This Neolithic ring is some 2900 years older than Stonehenge. It originally had 60 stones. It is also a World Heritage site that has been used in movies and as a tank training ground in 1941.

After the Ring, we visited Skara Brae, a prehistoric stone-built settlement. Again, it is around 5000 years old. 

In this one, you can see the stone beds, an area for storage and display, and a fire pit. 

At this point, things really shifted. We found out that the morning ferry back to the mainland was most likely canceled due to weather conditions. Sooo, rather than wait for the Friday afternoon ferry, which would mean Vicki driving these narrow roads in the dark to Inverness, we hoped to get on standby for TODAY’s ferry. 

We still stopped for lunch - we aren’t crazy - but afterwards, we went back to the rental, packed and prepped as if we were not returning, and headed for the ferry office. We were the last car in line on standby. We sat there in the rain (of course it was raining!) for more than an hour and a half, waiting to find out if we made the cut. 

Friends, we did not make the cut. So back to our rental to unpack and figure out where dinner will be. I have no pictures of the ferry office, nor of the line we were in. Aren’t you glad? 

Vicki’s perspective:

I have a photo of us in line at the ferry terminal:

My experience of this morning and afternoon was my planning brain going into overdrive and overloading Dan with questions while I’m driving to and from the old shit that’s on our list of things to see: Can you find out if there is another ferry from another port that takes vehicles today? Can you find out if we can get on a wait list for a ferry? Can you figure out where we will stay if we get on the ferry tonite? Where do we stay if tomorrow afternoon’s ferry gets cancelled? If we have to re-arrange our flights home, what needs to get done for next week?

Then I needed peanut m&ms, so we stopped to get those after Dan stopped to get seasickness pills for whenever we get onto the ferry again. 

There is a resignation that settles in once something is finalized, and that can feel peaceful, but when something is not finalized and all of the “what ifs” are firing in my head, I just want to stop whatever is scheduled and get the questions answered. Not fun for anyone, I know. I’m working on it. 

Our host is being so very gracious and letting us stay tomorrow as long as needed. If you come to Orkney, stay at the Buxa Chalet. Kathy from Detroit will take care of you.  Plus, the views are fantastic. 

Here are some other photos from today:

The bull turned just as I took the photo. 

Here he is!

Old shit

Info about the old shit. 

I am guessing that this and the one below are cairns.