And so it was time to move on to Papa Westray, the inter island flights are heavily subsidised so I decided to abandon Eleanor cosily tucked up in the hostel boiler room, and fly there for $21. The morning dawned foggy but every one assured my we would still fly so I ended up paying for a taxi to the airport as the half homely bus service is suspended in the middle of the day just as the planes leave. Only to drive and have to wait 4 hours for the said fog to clear.
But we did fly in a tiny 8 seated, which the pilot appeared to steer around the runway like a car and fly similarly. The cloud lifted so we could see all the island below us, but unfortunately closed in soon after arrival and so I didn't get ro see so much on my short stay.
However I did manage the knap of however which at 4000BC is the oldest,standing dwelling; amazing stone work.
Also managed to get onto the bird reserve to see the the very rare primula Scotia it is absolutely tiny and very beautiful, luckily the hostel manager told me where to find it.
The reserved is remote and the birds almost tame, they certainly didn't mind me watching as they mobbed marauding skuas. I did manage to find the past auk! The seals are also very curious and followed me along the coast back to the airport.
The flight back was on time but included the shortest schedule flight on the world from papa to westray, all of 90 seconds. Apparently I should have asked for a certificate to mark the occasion.
And so for the over night ferry to Shetland it was good to be reunited with Eleanor again.
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