Island Triathlon Day

What a day it has been. An early swim to beat road closures with sun, heat and blue skies from the off.
The Island Games Triathlon was what everyone was looking forward to and it started at 11am at the harbour. I took my place beside Selkie WendyF near the marina and saw the swimmers complete 2 laps of Hamnavoe  before jumping onto their bikes for the cycling element. While they were doing that we walked along the street to stand at the foot of Hellihole Road and watch the competitors complete 4 loops of running. It was a good choice because the house owner there decided to have a bit of a party and served up Pimm’s to us spectators. We hollered and clapped and sipped as each runner went past. It was truly amazing to have that camaraderie, but eventually we left  when there were no more runners to cheer.

At that point, a raspberry and blueberry ice cream seemed the answer and when, licking furiously, I bumped into SelkieSheila, we decided to go to watch the prize giving. An Orkney girl won the Women’s Triathlon and an Orkney boy was 3rd in the Men’s race- honour done to the home side.

As I walked home past the outside tables at the Ferry Inn, there were my friends of friends of friends sitting quaffing wine and inviting me to join them. I demurred as best I could but was eventually persuaded and we sat in the sun as though we were in some Mediterranean island instead of a northern Scottish Island- halcyon days indeed!

I’ve finally reached home to watch the Men’s Final at Wimbledon and the house feels like an oven. It’s unheard of for me to find a house feeling like an oven, usually my houses feel like fridges , but I’m still not complaining! I know, you know, we all know, its’s not going to last!