BC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Having been over in the boat from Aberdeen to Kirkwall last year for the bi-annual Orcades model show I decided to go back this year for the show week and take in the Dounby and County agricultural shows and also the orkney Vintage rally. This year I decided to drive the 200 odd miles to Gills bay and go over to St Margarets Hope (1 hour crossing ) in the MV Pentalina run by Pentland Ferries. Whilst I was waiting for the incoming ferry I had a look around the harbour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 The chap on the large excavator said the ferry operator bought in these old construction pieces of machinery and was being used tp deepen the harbour and then extend a jetty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 MV Pentalina coming in to unload and for us to board and set sail for Orkney on the first sailing for the day scheduled for 9.30 am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dm434 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 the sea air has taken its toll on that poor international Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Its the shortest time wise and cheapest crossing to Orkney £ 35 for car and £ 15 per passenger but the vehicles are packed very tightly on the boat. Second on but not second off I thought it rather cruel making the steak burger 7.t tonner and trailer reverse all the way down the ramp and right to the back of the boat but the driver handled it with ease apart from the trailer offering to catch the ramps. Could they not have put him on last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 the sea air has taken its toll on that poor international Oh I know David but I'm sure I'll see worse during my stay. If you look under my topic from last year there were 20 year old tractors rusted away to beyond economic repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Some wooden battens under the wheels did the trick but they were not a careful and cautious as S S Walker Recoveries...mind you the boat is not paid by the hour and have a timetable for the day to keep to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Off we go...hope my car is safe tucked away in that corner On the trip we went past two islands Swona and Storma which are uninhabited apart from the feral cattle living on Swona but I never saw any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Some seals St Margarets Hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 The first of the Churchill barriers on route to Kirkwall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 At the Italian Chapel built by prisoners of war Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yesterday time to come home and at St Margaret Hope waiting for the ferry which had already made one trip this morning to Gills Bay in Caithness. A load of quads etc bound for Orkney. Other than the car and passenger ferry not a very large port and the two boats on the left haven't been to sea in a long long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 The ferry coming in from the mainland. One chap with his Ferguson P3 on his way home from the Orkney vintage rally on the Sunday. The ferry was due to leave Orkney at 11.15 and arrive at Gills Bay one hour later at 12.15 however it was 11.35 before we set sail but the crossing was smooth and we docked around 11.45. Only 220 odd miles and circa 5 hours drive home now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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