I cycled back over the bridge onto mainland Shetland and headed back north, into the wind again. It died down for a while and I was cycling along to the accompanment of skylarks when I turn a corner to be assailed by the sight, sound and smell of Sullam Voe oil terminal. Complete with airfield, helicopters buzzing about , flare stacks and road sleepers creating more dust than they appeared to be clearing. Strangest of all was that on the other side of the road there were stacks of cut peat, drying for I assume, winter fuel.
This is a land of contrasts. There is no doubt the oil industry brings in a lot of funds, I haven't seen much evidence of pollution and the local population is able to retain a sense of community and tradition. No one locks their door out of lerwick, although there may be a few more urban issues there, nothing compared even with intellectually refined Cambridge.
I came down the hill and could see the ferry to Yell, but had to stop to get a picture of these little fellas.
Much more cycle friendly ferrymen here, I was allowed on first and when I tried to pay before I got off I was asked if I really wanted to, it seems he had put his ticket machine away!
I expected to find a shop to get some thing for lunch but manager to miss the one by the ferry. I had had a phone call from my next b&b lady to say they had to go to Lerwick and would not be back until 7, when she would prepare a meal. She described which was my room so I could go in, no locks on the doors again.
I found the village but no signal to find the house, I asked around and got directions via another beach. I stopped there to ransack the last of my supplies for lunch and the next shop was 7 miles away.
What an amazing beach, it had strips of golden, silver and pink sand. I spent another pleasant afternoon snoozing and watching the graceful acrobatics of the arctic terns, seal and cormorants.
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