The Shetland Islands

 Well, we made it! We got as far north as 60 degrees. The Shetland Islands are the northernmost island group in Great Britain. Nico would like to continue on to the Faroes but… I have my limits! Like Orkney, Shetland has its own flag and a distinct culture from Great Britain. It feels more like Scandinavia - it’s only 140 miles west of Norway. They have an annual event called the Up Helly Aa where they dress in costume, walk through the town carrying torches and then lighting a Viking long boat. We spent one night in a lovely protected harbor surrounded by farms with Shetland ponies. Then we went to Scalloway and tied up to a pontoon. Scalloway was full of WWII history. It was the site of The Norway Bus, a Norwegian naval unit made up of resistance fighters that used 30 fishing boats to ferry weapons, refugees, supplies and intelligence back and forth to Norway in the dark of winter. We took a regular bus across the island to Lerwick which is a major center for fish, oil and wind. Best of all, I had a wonderful close encounter with a herd of Shetland ponies!

The memorial to the Norway Bus

The town of Scalloway. The red house on the left is where the Norwegian resistance men were housed. The docks were where the boats were launched.

Scalloway also had its own castle from the 1600’s.

They had a very good museum that explained the resistance movement and the development of the Fair Isle sweater.

Beautiful patterns

More modern design with brighter colors

I was truly amazed at how small Shetland ponies really are. I couldn’t believe they could be much use until I saw this picture.

Shetland women worked hard - all the time.

The original sweaters were dyed using lichens mostly.

Great hair

Nico and I took a walk one morning and came across a whole herd of ponies. They were totally fine with us approaching them and giving them scratches. They aren’t wild although they are wandering loose around the island. Somebody owns them. As my friend Jeannie said, “perhaps they wouldn’t miss just one!” The ponies were enjoying scratching themselves on some pipes that were in that area.