A shark surfaced in Scrabster Bay, reminding us of the vital sealife of the isles. On the passage to Stromeness I saw Johnathan Livingston Seagull surfing the updrafts from the wake of the ferry. Past the western cliffs of Hoy and the Old Man of Hoy into at little bay. I walked up to a hill and looked east to the islands.

A gentle breeze in my face, the Scottish sun at my back and the clouds hang low Orkney.

…I should amend: Orcadians deny being Scots.