HELLO AGAIN !
Ian : It's been a fairly good summer this year, compared with the last two, with more sunshine but not alot of temperatures above 23 degrees.
The really balmy conditions were down in the south of England.
I have been occupying myself with a PhotoDocumentary project capturing the main street in our part of Glasgow - Dumbarton Road. Also documenting all the characters I've been seeing over the last three years.
We wanted to go up to (nearly) the top of Scotland before it turned back into winter again. So we jumped on a train up to Inverness - then onto Thurso. Then grab a ferry for a stomach-churning 90 minute trip to ... Orkney !
* Remember to click on the photo to see the full size version.
From the train, on the way up - this time we got a view of the landscape when the heather is in full bloom.
The oil industry near Invergordon.
These two little chaps clung onto the glass of the train for ages - I think they got off at Brora.
After the train journey and a bumpy ferry crossing, this is the view from our room in the Orca Hotel, Stromness.
The welcoming committee has been hard at work.
Try as we might, we couldn't find any power points.
Heaven knows where they plugged their toasters in !
Skail House in the background - home of William Graham Watt, who discovered Skara Brae in 1850.
Amazing geological details in this part of the world, like the evidence of the earth's crust being buckled and bent.
Kelp or fashion design ?
These guys were making their own faux-stone-age dwelling.
I'm not really sure.
Snapped for the islands latest edition of neolithic-chic !
We weren't allowed to take photos of the inside.
But here's the link to their website - http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/
Our trusty rented car - a very nice little wagon.
I just couldn't work out the parking lights - we'd turn them off, go off somewhere, when we came back - they'd be on again !
These are the Stenness Stones.
Another possible Maeshowe mound.
just beside ...
Stone Henge was wonderful, but being able to walk right up to these standing stones was pretty special.
The Viking Cathederal - St Magnus in Kirkwall, the largest town in Orkney.
Stromness by night !
The main street and the Stromness Hotel - home of the most delicious steak pie.
. . . and from the ferry leaving Stromness, we say farewell to Orkney . . .
On the way we go past 'The Old Man' - part of the coastline of Hoy island.
--------------- O ---------------
Ian : It's been a fairly good summer this year, compared with the last two, with more sunshine but not alot of temperatures above 23 degrees.
The really balmy conditions were down in the south of England.
I have been occupying myself with a PhotoDocumentary project capturing the main street in our part of Glasgow - Dumbarton Road. Also documenting all the characters I've been seeing over the last three years.
We wanted to go up to (nearly) the top of Scotland before it turned back into winter again. So we jumped on a train up to Inverness - then onto Thurso. Then grab a ferry for a stomach-churning 90 minute trip to ... Orkney !
* Remember to click on the photo to see the full size version.
From the train, on the way up - this time we got a view of the landscape when the heather is in full bloom.
The oil industry near Invergordon.
These two little chaps clung onto the glass of the train for ages - I think they got off at Brora.
After the train journey and a bumpy ferry crossing, this is the view from our room in the Orca Hotel, Stromness.
The welcoming committee has been hard at work.
Try as we might, we couldn't find any power points.Heaven knows where they plugged their toasters in !
Skail House in the background - home of William Graham Watt, who discovered Skara Brae in 1850.
Amazing geological details in this part of the world, like the evidence of the earth's crust being buckled and bent.
Kelp or fashion design ?
These guys were making their own faux-stone-age dwelling.
I'm not really sure.
Snapped for the islands latest edition of neolithic-chic !
We weren't allowed to take photos of the inside.But here's the link to their website - http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/
At the winter soltice the sun travels down the long entrance passage to light up the inside - one of the stone age's favorite tricks.
Anyhow, here's my drawing of the inside :
You can see the massive main corner pillars and the openings each side to little storage chamber with the stones lying on the floor which are thought to have once sealed the entrances.
Also, you can see the corbelled roof where the stones forming the wall are stepped in a bit with each layer.
Anyhow, here's my drawing of the inside :
You can see the massive main corner pillars and the openings each side to little storage chamber with the stones lying on the floor which are thought to have once sealed the entrances.Also, you can see the corbelled roof where the stones forming the wall are stepped in a bit with each layer.
Our trusty rented car - a very nice little wagon.I just couldn't work out the parking lights - we'd turn them off, go off somewhere, when we came back - they'd be on again !
These are the Stenness Stones.
Another possible Maeshowe mound.just beside ...
Stone Henge was wonderful, but being able to walk right up to these standing stones was pretty special.
The Viking Cathederal - St Magnus in Kirkwall, the largest town in Orkney.
Stromness by night !
The main street and the Stromness Hotel - home of the most delicious steak pie.
. . . and from the ferry leaving Stromness, we say farewell to Orkney . . .
On the way we go past 'The Old Man' - part of the coastline of Hoy island.--------------- O ---------------
Labels: kirkwall, maeshowe, neolithic, orkney, scotland, standing stones, stromness, uk
posted by Ian at 7:52 pm
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