Unst Bus Shelter

Backblipped for 29 May

A long day scheduled, driving up from Lerwick to Unst.

We were able to visit the Keen of Hamar and once again search for specimens of the unique Edmonston's Chickweed (Mr Flum found the best example) then see the nearby Chromate quarrry and reconstructed Horse Mill where the ore was crushed before export.

Our guide took us to the Taing of Norwick, to the Wick of Skaw then, on request, deviated from the schedule by driving up the disused MOD road at Saxa Vord to give us a splendid view of Muckle Flugga lighthouse and, the most Northerly point of Britain, Out Stack.

En route, instead of waiting at the ferry, Mr Flum and I were treated to a whistlestop tour of the new manse at Gutcher, almost finished and shortly to be occupied by one of our erstwhile Methodist Ministers, much to his relief after years in a rented cottage.

And, of course, no visit to Unst is complete without seeing the famous Bus Shelter. Decorated in red this year for the theme of the Diamond Jubilee but incorporating a reference to the Olympic Games in a cushion embroidered with Her Majesty carrying the torch. I loved it so, though it isn't geological, chose that for my blip.