Puffin, Hiking and Rough Waters

 

  • Puffin, Hiking and Rough Waters in Anstruther



Our explorations around Scotland have been exciting and wondrous but the latest was much more than that. It was the fulfilment of a life long dream for Susi.  I don’t know how many times she talked about seeing puffins with a dreamy longing expression on her face. We booked the boat tour far in advance since it is an extremely popular destination for tourists. The boat (Isle of May) holds around 50 passengers and the slots fill up in a flash. As our time got closer, the weather forecast got more foreboding with a promise of a high chance for 34 mph winds which could force a cancellation. I am not sure what the wind speed was when we got the go ahead, but they were quite fierce. The waves in the harbour were fairly calm, but as we went through the walls for the hour plus trip out to the island the boat was rocking and rolling like a wild carnival ride. Many of the passengers were screaming when we crashed through some of the bigger crests as the boat rolled side to side while jumping up and down like a shaken not stirred cocktail for 007. Poor Susi was a brave soul with a determined look not to succumb to her tendency for motion sickness, but her stomach let her down by emptying all its contents in several barf bags. She was not the only one with that reaction. Later we heard one of the passengers feeling remorseful for completely missing the bag. Two of our fellow adventurers came up when we docked offering Susi dramamine tablets for the return trip which she accepted and they did help.  As we docked, the Captain admitted that our voyage was the worst they had ever seen.


Our Ride to the Island of May






The Rough Trip Out!


All the trouble was worth the suffering. Once we were on dry land surrounded by hundreds of puffins, it took about five minutes for Susi to get her land legs and a broad almost tearful smile for this dream fulfilment adorned her face. We had about three hours to wander May Island that not only had a plethora of Puffins but Eiders, Cormorants, Shags, Herron Gulls, Common Gulls and Guillemots as well as many other birds. To top it all off, there were the ruins of a monastery, the earliest lighthouse and much more. The trip back to the mainland was still a bit rough, but the dramamine and the wind pushing us instead of resisting our progress enable Susi to enjoy the scenery.  


Just a few of the Many Puffins

An Idle Eider

We spent the evening visiting a nice pub and relaxing in our room. The next day we did a section of the Fife Coastal Trail which was eight miles of spectacular scenery and more birds. Some parts were a bit confusing as there was a high tide and low tide trek for some of the path. We managed to just make it in time to be able to avoid the detour that the high tide would have demanded. We took advantage of three cafes for coffee or tea stops but felt fully justified for the extra calories as we worked hard going up and down the uneven coast. All in all, it was a great mini vacation and we would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see Puffins up close and spend some time in an exquisite part of Scotland.


Statue of Mother and Son maybe saying don't go out there it's too rough.
We found a great resting spot!
Flynn was quite happy to see us arrive home!


Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 16, 2023 at 2:27 PM

    The old sailor in me definitely empathizes with Suzi. Whilst I am fine on ships, small boats can be really awful, such a small center of gravity. I use the ear patch for small boats. But sounds like the trip was an overall win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 16, 2023 at 3:48 PM

      It was a great win. Someone else suggested using earplugs to listen to music. I know that helped Susi on airline flights, but this case was quite rough for the whole passage and I’m not sure they would have made much of a difference.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 16, 2023 at 2:57 PM

    Such an incredible adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 17, 2023 at 12:32 AM

    Wonderful adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jane TownMay 17, 2023 at 3:03 AM

    Thanks for sharing your adventures! So anxious to come for a visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 17, 2023 at 5:18 PM

      Can’t wait until you have a chance to do just that.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJune 25, 2023 at 2:08 AM

      Tom - just heard about your blog from Julie B and Heidi T. Give my best to Susi. Perhaps someday our paths will cross again.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousJuly 13, 2023 at 7:05 AM

      That would be great. I know Julie and Heidi but you are anonymous. Can you give me a hint of who you might be so I can know if our paths are crossing. :)

      Delete

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