Shetland and on to Aberdeen

Driving around day.  Great birding in the morning.  Then exploring some parts of the Geopark in the afternoon.  The whole of Shetland Islands are a UNESCO-designated geopark because of the variety and significance of the geology exposed there.  It is just kind of beginning in terms of public interpretation but some aspects are accessible.

The big story is that there are plates pushing against each other which have pushed up and created the Shetlands including Fair Isle.  The north/south ridges of the islands are the peaks of the plates and have carried up a wide variety of  rock of different eons.

Here are some photos of the geology.  It was pretty poor weather in the afternoon so I could not get photos of everything I saw but had a great time anyway.

My car parked in front of one of the major fault lines. Shetland is the top of the ridges separating
 the North Atlantic and North Sea, 2 major plates coming together and creating the Shetlands.

Narrow part of island; 30 yards between North Sea and Atlantic.  Same fault line in the background. This narrow passage has also been a major route for people and otters to move between the N. Sea and Atlantic.

Esha Ness, remains of volcanic core. Glorious scenery, a lighthouse too.  Hardly any birds.  What's up with that?

Meteor crater on west side of Shetland

Shetland pony and friend. 

I was excited about taking a boat cruise from Lerwick that has an underwater camera to see diving seabirds and other underwater things.  Only the short cruise in the harbor was available so no diving birds but we did see seals, a wreck and many creatures growing on pilings. OK enough; not sure I would do it again.  Saw bids but not diving under the water which I had hoped for. Big highlight for me was seeing 2 red-throated loons.

Submarine camera to view seals, wrecks or other underwater things.
It is about 2 feet square.

Sea anemones under Lerwick Harbor

 A curiosity. Unlike Ireland where poetry jumps out at you everywhere, it is not omnipresent here.  But a poetry contest using the Scottish tongue a few years ago has resulted in Bards in the Bog.  The bog means the toilet so we could have our private poetry moment many different places.

Poetry in the toilet stalls

Fiddle Festival.

I really can't plan these things.  Part of traveling is enjoying what is happening at the time.  But my good luck was to be back in Shetland for the last part of the Fiddle Festival which is becoming an annual event.  It is focused on workshops for those wanting to improve their skills and included guitars, accordions and a few other instruments.

I went to the closing concert in the main concert and entertainment venue in Lerwick.  I am sorry that I missed the big dance party the evening before but it was very far north--too far for me.  The Saturday concert was grand.  It started with most of the musicians and students who had worked together and taught all week playing together to open the evening. What fun.  Then they dispersed into the audience so we all chatted about their week.  The rest of the concert was groups of Shetland fiddlers--good music and good craic (fun chat).




Then, to my surprise and delight, many of the same folks were on the Northlink Ferry on Sunday, returning to Aberdeen. So we had sessions in the bar on the ferry with as many as 10-12 musicians participating.  A great evening entertainment for me.