Puffin tsunami

Watch out Mr Puffin - there's a tsunami approaching!

We've had an amazing day on the island of Papa Westray. We travelled there and back by bike and boat from Westray. On the island itself we joined the Peedie Papay tour, led by Jonathan Ford, who is the newly appointed island heritage ranger.

The tour included visits to 'official' historic archaeological sites such as the 5000 year-old settlement of Knap of Howar and the 12th century St Boniface Kirk. We also heard news of recent discoveries such as a Viking skeleton found in the foundations of a house just a couple of weeks ago when the builders came round to put in underfloor heating! The tour included stop-offs at the island museum, and we also enjoyed reading about the history of the island in the community centre.

We spent most of the afternoon outside walking along the cliffs over the RSPB reserve on the north east side of the island. As well as sea birds, including a few puffins (not quite as many as we saw on Lunga on May 20th), we also observed the tiny primula scotica.

There were three stops for food and drink along the way too: we joined the community coffee morning in the church for home made cakes in the morning; at lunchtime we were served a three course meal of carrot and ginger soup, quiche and salad, and shortbread in the community centre; then in the afternoon it was back to the community centre for tea and scones before we took the ferry back 'home' to Westray.

Exercise today: cycle to the pier and back, walking (12,370 steps).