One of the great "unknowns" heading south is trying to gauge the effect of the infamous Shetlands wind which can reach ferocious levels without too much effort ! A news article yesterday in the cafe at Saxa Vord confirmed this highlighting one event in the late 1990's where winds from a storm picked up a hut and its two sleeping tourist inhabitants depositing them sadly deceased some 400 metres away !
As it turned out our glorious spell of sunny weather (12 hours) had in fact disappeared to be replaced with chilly overcast conditions and an energy sapping headwind that plagued us for nearly all of today's distance.
The first 15 kms back to our ferry at Belmont was doable but the 40 kms on the Island of Yell (aptly named because that was exactly what Monika was doing !) was slow torture against the unrelenting headwinds. We stopped at Mid Yell for lunch and a wind respite finding shelter on the beach standing directly behind a sea shipping container ! The rest did though give us a wildlife "gem" when an otter calmly exited from the Sea heading across the beach to his burrow - apparently it was too cold and windy even for him !
Replenished by our somewhat nauseous microwaved pie we headed along a series of wild never ending undulating single track roads to our next ferry port.
An international incident was narrowly avoided en route when an 8 foot wide truck attempted to pass Monika on an 8 foot wide section of single track rather than wait 10 seconds in a passing bay to allow Monika to cycle by - with the truck inching forward Monika used her knowledge of the Australian vernacular to stun the truck driver into halting to allow her to safely pass - it's not often that you hear someone out swear a truckie so full marks to Monika !
Finally off the island of Yell we made our way to Voe along beautiful loch side scenery albeit now competing with high speed traffic on the main road to Lerwick.
With aching leg muscles we eventually arrived back at our scenically positioned accommodation in Lower Voe. A quick shower and it was out to dinner to the nearby pier pub with fellow B&Bers Judith & Simon to thank them for looking after us 2 days previous when we were stuck without food. The pub was was cleared of the drunken bodies and refuse that had been evident during the Viking festival and served up a good array of food with the fisherman's basket and Valhalla brewed beers clear winners.
Back at our B&B there was time to discuss the world's issues while watching the lovely sunset - if you can call it that given it seems to be still light at midnight !
Tomorrow sees us leaving Shetland as we cycle to Lerwick to catch our ferry to the historic Orkneys.
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