Shetland: Skeld and Westerwick

 What a collection of stacks, tunnels and arches! Superb from the sea in calm misty weather. This was our first day in Shetland, hot off the ferry and anxious to get out on the water. One of the best 2 mile stretches of coast anywhere in the world. Although we had been in Shetland less than 12 hours we all agreed that even if it blew a gale for the next 3 weeks it would have been worth coming.

 Just as spectacular from the cliffs and a short walk from the campsite in Skeld. So much in such a small section of coast, the mist just hanging at cliff height. A good place for wild flowers as well.

Back in the Solent

More posts on Shetland are pending, but meanwhile we are back in our usual haunts. Helping out with a charity paddle from Ryde to Gosport today.

 Here is my swimmer, who made excellent progress until meeting heavy shipping between Sturbridge and Gilkicker.

We have never tried to cross with so much traffic around, but QHM and VTS were very helpful and a pilot cutter came out to assess our speed and fit us in with the AIS readings. In the end there was plenty of water for everyone, but we had to wait 5 minutes for the Cassiopeia to go ahead and then crossed astern.

Some of the slower swimmers ended up waiting for  3 large ships, an intermediate group was allowed to set off between vessels 2 and 3, getting a quick start to make the gap.

Thinking about it, 'busy' is what makes the Solent the fun place it is.