May 14th - St Kilda

 

·        

St. Kilda, United Kingdom

       Fragments of the past haunt these islands, now home to the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins

  • The UK’s only dual UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of only 39 in the world.
  • Home to nearly 1 million seabirds, including the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins.
  • Evacuated on 29 August 1930 after the remaining 36 islanders voted to leave as their way of life was no longer sustainable.
  • St Kilda has its own unique wren, as well as a sub-species of mouse which is twice the size of a British fieldmouse.

Morning 

More PUFFINS who knew.

This is an amazing place I knew nothing about.  A location that until 1930 that was totally isolated from the outside world.  They lived as if in the 1800’s.  We are being greeted by the of the head of the program that is investigating this strange place.

I will let you know what we think.  

Morning update, it is raining so Bob not doing the hike, not Cambridge rain but raining so much I will be wearing my rubber boots.

Might not be long on shore this morning but rain is not going to stop us from seeing this island.

Okay I will start with the bad news, no puffins but 2 stuffed toy ones were bought from the shop.  Where the puffins are needs a zodiac ride to another island and the waves are too big so plans have changed.  So puffin adjacent is my situation today.

It was very cold, windy and raining but it was still a wonderful stop, I will now have to find a book about the place and learn more.  Sheep run the island so we had to be careful, at one point 5 ran out of a hidden walkway and scared us.  Very low cloud cover so pics don’t show the beauty or strange vibe.






A wet but smooth zodiac ride back to the ship and then off to per lunch trivia. Bob knew 2 answers and I knew 2 but we only scored 9/15 as a team but we tied for first. So the streak continues and other teams know were are not cheating.  What 70’s band was named after to Charles Dickens character?   

This afternoon we have a tour of the bridge and tomorrow is a sea day.  Fingers crossed the seas will calm.


Comments

  1. Janice HattMay 14, 2024 at 2:54 PM

    apparently Uriah Heep, but I had to look it up -- what an icky choice! Love your photos of St. Kilda and now I want to go there. Sorry about the puffins.

    ReplyDelete

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