Yet again the end.

 Friday 2nd June

Somehow we have failed to post this picture of a scarecrow from Unst. Is this some kind of tribute to the new monarch or a an Unstian statement of rebellion? 
We are going home day today so the weather is the best we have had yet. Blue skies, sunshine and barely a flutter of wind. We fulfill the march out requirements at the Peerie Nuek and hit the road south. We have time to stop in Baltasound and buy some of the really excellent local oatcakes before heading south to the Belmont ferry terminal.
As we crest the hill above the jetty we see the ferry departing for Gutcher. Luckily the next one is only half an hour away. There is lots to amuse us in the bay around the terminal including a grey seal and a splendid Red Throated Diver, also known as a Loon or Rain Goose.
The weird thing about the Shetland inter island ferries is that you only get charged on the way out. In contrast to Tuesday we almost have a private boat for the ten minute trip from Unst to Yell.

When we travelled north across Yell we had an onward ferry deadline to meet and took the main road up the west coast of the island. Today we have deliberately allowed extra time to let us do a bit of exploring.  The road down the east coast is single track with passing places but very scenic, no doubt helped by blue skies and sunshine. There are tremendous views eastwards towards the Out Skerries, the closest Shetland Islands to Norway. This small group of islands had a population of 30 at the last census.
From Yell we cross back to Mainland Shetland, again on a very quiet ferry. From the open balcony above the car deck we watch for whales without success but we do see a large group of loons bobbing up and down in the water. D's camera battery chooses this moment to expire so no photo.
Back on Mainland we take time to visit the terminal at Sullom Voe, built by R's dad and possibly a couple of other fellas. A year ago this view was obliterated by horizontal rain. Today's conditions could not have been more benign.
On our way back to the big ferry we stop by the meadow from last Sunday and once again see lapwings, whimbrels, dunlins and what we think is a dunlin chick.
Amongst the biological oddities of Shetland is a separate species of bumble gee , with orange stripes rather than yellow. It took a while to get a good shot.

The MV Hrossey is the identical twin of the MV Hjaltland that we sailed north on. We even have the same cabin - 402. The first hour or so of the trip is down along the coast of Mainland and we find a spot on the top deck with a view, just in case there are whales to see but we have no luck.
The lounge has Haddock and chips for supper with other options but that sounds good to us.

The crossing is benign, disembarkation almost hassle free and the drive south in the sunshine quite splendid. We get back home to 21°C. There is just time to rinse the beach shoes and put them out to dry before we are off to the opera. 
Civilisation has its plus points 

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