Scilly Isles

---

11^thJuly

Happy 10^th Anniversary. Explored Town, looked through all the little shops. A tourist town for sure, tourist prices and lots of 'brand name' clothing labels. Went into a little crious shop and Phil found pieces of eight for sale. We nearly got one in the Caribbean, but they were replicas. These ones were the real deal, from the ships sunk around the scillys. Spent ages in there, and Phil found one he liked, but we'll go back tomorrow if we decide to get it. Earlier on in the day we saw a vintage car doing tours round the island, but it was overcast, this afternoon it was beautiful and sunny, so we phoned him and he was available to take us around the island. A very lovely afternoon, driving around the island in the sun. That night we had dinner with Boomerang and D-Jay. Pubs all close early here, so not a very late night. The girls went to leave about 11pm, but when we got to the dinghy, they were all high and dry. So we had to wait on the dock for the tide to come in for half hour or so.

12^th July

Diana and I took boat trip to see Seals and Penguins today. It was overcast and there were just a few showers, but we still went. Decided to go with the boat Sea Quest as I noticed online that it only took 12 passengers and had a roof, so we'd be undercover. Great decision!! Saw our puffins and heaps of seals. Puffins are much smaller than I thought they would be. They're only here in the Scillys for another 10 days or so for nesting and then they will go back out to sea, so we were fortunate to see them. When we got back, Phil and I went to get the coin he'd decided to purchase. The diver who recovered them, actually had a pendant mount, so we bought that as well We only knew this from the driver yesterday who mentioned it and took us to the divers house to ask about them. Got to love the Scillys!!

13^th July

Boomerang and us took Zodi across to Tresco Island today. It wasn't very far, just 2nm I think, but we left at low tide, which wasn't a problem until we wanted to go ashore on Tresco......there was no way of getting to the shore the way we went. The tide was way out and in the end we had to jump out of the Zodi and walk/drag it through the shallowest parts and then find the channel again to get to the landing spot. Once there, we had to drag the Zodi's up the beach as we knew the tide would come in all the way. The water was freezing when we first got in, and all around us were people wading in up to knee deep water with nets. They were catching shrimp. Hmmm, I would prefer to buy my shrimp and stay warm and dry!! With the Zodi's hauled up to the top of the shoreline we started our circumnavigation of the island. We went to the local 'gardens' but on finding that an entrance fee of 12 pound pp was required, we decided that it wasn't that important to go into the gardens. There are some figure heads in there from the sunken ships around that would've been good to see, but not for that price. The walk around the island took us quite a few hours, up and down small hills, wandering through head high bracken on a very narrow path and it made me think of the famous five and secret 7 books. We were really in that type of country. At any moment I expected to see Tammylan. (check sp!!!) We saw a couple of old ruins - forts mainly, and all in all had a pleasant day. But boy those Boomerang people enjoy their walks. My legs were not so happy with the sudden increase in movement!! That night we went ashore with Booomerang and D-Jay and Watched World Cup Final in Mermaid Pub in the evening – surprisingly most of the people were going for Germany!!

14^th July

My legs are not happy today. Well just the front tops of my thighs are not happy. Did some small maintenance on boat this morning, Debby picked me up and we took our washing ashore to be done – at 12pound a load. We needed to get our sheets done, so for them it's always a proper machine. We fixed our auto helm and then went ashore to tease the leg muscles just a bit more, Phil and I climbed up to the castle. Not a very strenuous walk, but enough to do good to the sore muscles anyway. Coming down is worse than going up!! Met Boomerang in the pub for sundowners and that turned into dinner. Glad about that – the food in Admiral Inn was very nice and reasonably priced.

---