A few days ago I visited a small island, called Rousay which is off the main island of the Orkneys. I was misinformed on the main island about the availability of supplies on the island, so I was only able to stay for a day. I might have starved! Luckily, something had told me to pack up my leftover pasta, cooking oil, and a box of cereal bars from the previous night and therefore I had food. I was able to get water and chips from the one bar/restaurant on the island.

Rousay is known for it's rich archeological sites, many of which are neolithic and Viking. I knew that the Westerness Walk was too far for my tired legs, so I settled for reaching 3 different cairns.

cairn

\Cairn\, n. [Gael. carn, gen. cairn, a heap: cf. Ir. & W. carn.] 1. A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument.

I had a breathtaking walk along the water. The first cairn was called Taversoe Tuick, and was unusual for a neolithic dwelling as it was multilevel and the top level could be closed off from the bottom one for protection. You could crawl all over these places, it was really cool.

The next cairn was Blackhammar Tomb. I felt like I was sneaking into some secret agent place because you had to slide open this massive metal door to get in. Finally, I went to the Knowe of Larso, which was a very large cairn. I went inside, and while I was in there, it began to pour outside. The weather up here in northern Scotland and especially the Orkneys, is super crazy. It changes in 2 seconds. Knowing this, I sat all alone in this neolithic dwelling, eating chips and having a drink of water. It was creepy to think that someone had been probably doing something really similar 4500-5000 yrs ago, or they had been placing their dead relatives there!!

This cairn was up on a white rock hill, surrounded by more heather. I was very impressed with the way my Gortex shell repelled the wind, and I was able to stand up there for a long time admiring the view.

On the way back, my legs were really tired from the walk and the previous day's bike ride. I thought about hitching back with, or at least trying to. I was about to stick out my thumb to the first car in about 10-15 minutes when I looked over to another island. The biggest rainbow I have EVER seen was right across the bay. I had never seen one full with purple. Honestly, it was such a beautiful sight and being there, all alone on Rousay, with not a human around was really what I was looking for on this trip to northern Scotland.

To top it off, I have mastered the use of public transportation in Orkney and was able to take a ferry to a bus, connect with another bus to get where I wanted to go, in time to check to my hostel, and take another bus out to Skara Brae. Go me. :)