Today was the first day where we all felt almost normal when we got up. Considering our previous state was sleep-monster-mcgrouch-extraordinaire, we found this quite an improvement.
I gave up on the coffee in our flat and gave Laura money to go downstairs to the Blyde Welcome to get the good stuff. It was an arduous journey of twelve steps and four metres to the front door of "our" coffee shop. Yet both Laura and Denise managed it and even found a healthy salad for lunch. Breakfast was had with good coffee.
At 1pm we met Jolene Garriock, by met, I meant we walked out the front door and there she was. We had arranged for Jolene to take us around a part of the Mainland Denise and I only briefly saw last time, the area around Scalloway. Scalloway was the ancient capital of Shetland before they moved it to Lerwick.
We exited Lerwick via the North route, which quickly becomes quite a scenic drive. We weren't long before we came to the Shetland Forest. This is the only place in Shetland where there are actually more than a couple of trees, and none of them are scraggly-looking. See below:
Next was a familiar trip around the Weisdale Voe, which Denise and I drove around frequently last time we were in Shetland. Jolene took us through Tingwall, which is where the vikings, when they still owned Shetland, held their parliament, also known as "Thing." We saw the specific island where it was held, and, of course, Laura and Denise had to get out to read all the signage.
As is evident in this picture, it was breezy.
There were many great views and, I would guess, 1000000 organic lawn mowers. The people here call them sheep. Much to Laura's disappointment, on the way to Scalloway we only saw two Shetland ponies.
We continued our drive to Scalloway and toured through the town, seeing the various areas as it is a rather spread out. Afterward, we went to the Scalloway Museum. It's a small museum but very interesting as it has great exhibits on the area, and a huge display on the Shetland Bus. For those of you who do not know what the Shetland Bus is, it was a coordinated effort (which started with individual fishing boats) to support the resistance in Norway after the Nazis invaded. There are a number of books on the topic, one of which we picked up for the family's WWII expert, Kevin. As he doesn't read this blog, it's safe to say that here.
Considering how little the boats were, I was impressed with the bravery and how much the people of Shetland and Norway were able to accomplish.
Next, Jolene bought us tea, coffee, and sweets at the museum's coffee shop where Laura was given the greatest gift of this tour: two Shetland ponies right behind the museum.
She took a video of one scratching its butt on the fence. She's very sure it's the greatest video she's ever filmed.
Purchases were made at the gift shop: some books, a Shetland flag, and more postcards, which people who asked for them can expect to arrive.
After the museum closed, we drove onto the islands of Tronda and West Burra to see the village of Hamnavoe. That's where there are artists and they make the Burra Bears: which is making teddy bears from old Shetland and Fair Isle knitting. Laura would buy one but they are ridiculously expensive. As they're hand-crafted though, they're worth it to those who can afford them.
Denise and I picked out old croft houses we'd like to fix up, if we ever win the lottery.
I have to add that Jolene was a wonderful tour guide. She had lots of local knowledge, and can handle the one-lane roads like a pro. Laura is still convinced everyone in Shetland drives like they're in a Formula 1 race in downtown Toronto. Jolene tried her best to make Laura feel better about it, and succeeded slightly. On the drive back, she took us past the new library and where the Shetland Family History Society is now located, which is above and beyond.
Jolene had us back to our door at 5pm sharp, and dinner was more of the food from the Island Larder, then onto typing up my blog to keep up to date on this trip.
For the record, by the end of the tour, Laura saw 11 Shetland ponies.
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