Penthouse Living at 60°N

Saturday 27th May
We sleep quite well, only occasionally disturbed by the gale blowing outside. Just after six am some philistine lets the front door that is just by our room slam and the day begins. Wordle, World, Globle and Quordle all go reasonably well. Nigel provides a reasonable breakfast buffet with enough slack to cater for lunch as well. Épater la bourgeoisie!
 We are on the road south by 09.00 with Sumburgh Head, the most southerly point on the island, our destination. The weather forecast is not great for today and the clearly visible low cloud and distant rain flurries reinforce the BBC's line on this. We do get the opportunity to step out into the howling wind for this year's first Shetland Pony shot.
At Sumburgh the rain is holding off but the wind is fierce, making it hard work to open the car doors. Looking back northwards suggests that precipitation is imminent but we enjoy breezy, almost temperate dryness as we walk up to the lighthouse. R ensures that she is ready for the elements. We have been tipped off where to go for the best puffin sightings so that is where we go. Last year we got a couple of fleeting glances of these wonderful birds. This year we do not go short.
After this much of the day is an anticlimax. The weather really starts to close in. We stop briefly to take a picture of the Sumburgh Airport runway. It has the sea at both sides and a set of traffic lights at the west end to allow the road traffic over.
As we head back north the weather closes in and we seek refuge in the Shetland Museum, down by Lerwick Harbour. This provides a comprehensive coverage of the history of the islands outwith the wind and rain. Life was no sinecure. The boat in the picture below was rowed 40 miles out to sea by six men who then had to fish.
Our check in time arrived and we made our way to the Nort Bode apartments. We stayed with them last year but this time we are in a different let. It is brilliant. Light, airy, spacious and well equipped in the attic. 
Tonight's meal is at the Chef's table with the best cook in town. We have chicken chickpea and chorizo with corn on the cob. Wonderful.
The best bit of all is this!

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