May 23 summary

Well we're both pretty tired of cool temps with wind and/or rain. I asked one of the visitor center ladies about whether this has been an unusually cool May and she said, it was sunny last Sunday!  as if one sunny day redeems the month. We have no idea if this is all normal, but we think California is just around the corner and we're happy about that. It was 42 degrees when we left our little Waiting Room this morning, and it is 41 a outside the tent as I type this a half hour before sunset. Forecast high today for the nearest town, Stromness, was 44, so it's a safe bet that the sea surface temp must be right around 42-44 degrees. 42 and sunny is terrific walking weather. But 42 and mostly cloudy with relentless strong wind is a different deal, mentally draining to have so much wind. What to wear in these conditions?

4 layers on legs

5 layers on torso

3 hoods + Buff

2 layers on hands

Gaiters (to keep ankles warm)

Plenty warm and comfy with that costume, we were absolutely the only visitors walking around Skara Brae who were properly attired!

[edit after trip: looking at the Wunderground data for the nearest station at IORKNEYI2, the average wind speed for the 24 hours of May 23 was 26mph, gusting to 51mph. Temperature range was 39-46.]

We spent an hour on the bus this morning traveling from Saint Margaret's Hope to Stenness. The rest of the day we walked on quiet paved roads through a very pleasing pastoral countryside. Excepting for the winds, a very satisfying day. 

Nice lunch at Skara Brae cafe and reasonable dinner at a pub/restaurant in Dounby. Now we're camped in the village park/field, thanks to directions from the man at the grocery store.