Barge Ahoy
September 2, 2009 by barebraes
Yesterday the phone rang at Barebraes and upon answering it I was reliably informed that the Barge bound for the Fair Isles laden with pods for the bird observatory was leaving Hatsons Pier. After a short while I took the binoculars and peered over towards Kirkwall and there it was, lead by the pilot boat heading along the String out towards its destination.
As it passed very slowly I got a good view of the contents of the barge, Little houses all stacked on the decks. The name of the Barge is Salina and it was accompanied by the MTS Vengeance. The day was bright and clear and not too windy and I wondered how long it would take to get to the destination as the speed it was going was very slow.
As it headed out into the String I got ready for work at the Thomas Sinclair.
On arriving at work we could see on the horizon what looked like a huge moving hill, this was the barge but it seemed to be getting nearer instead of farther away. On inspection through binoculars we could see that she had turned around and was heading back towards Kirkwall 
Apparently they had decided that the weather window was too narrow and the swell too much to chance the journey and back into port to wait another day they came.
Well when she goes again I hope that she makes her long journey and safely gets to the Fair Isles.
Here is a Link to the Bird observatory site :
http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/NewObservatory/Appeal_update.html
Magic, Barebraes. How lucky you are to be able to see things like this! Are the pods for birds or for humans?
The word ‘pods’ always reminds me of that BBC programme about the ‘castaways’ on Taransay… Obviously these ones will be a bit more permanent! It’ll be a great day for the Fair Isle when they finally arrive and get fixed down against the gales. Its getting a bit late in the year. Paws X-ed
Hopefully,they’ll find a gap in the weather before the winter storms start. Lucky you being able to look out on to the sea—all i have is the Cevennes mountain range in the distance otherwise its just vineyards—another reason why I can’t wait rto get back to whitianga
…”all i have is the Cevennes mountain range in the distance otherwise its just vineyards”…Honestly taddoe, some people would sell their souls for a view like that! You’re just an islander at heart
:
okay—but in whitianga,i have buffalo beach on my front doorstep and the coromandel mountain range out the back door—–just heaven 
I wouldnt live anywhere else now that doesnt have a sea view but I would enjoy seeing the vineyards and mountains.
The pods apparently have left (or some of them have )
I think they have rethought the strategy and are using smaller vessels with fewer pods now. On a trip to Kirkwall this morn I could still see some of them on the Hatsons Pier.
Bon Voyage Pods
Very cautious, splitting the losses (maybe). Let’s hope all goes well for both cargoes.
whats the latest news barebraes–are you all okay??miss your blogs
Happy New Year to all at barebraes, Hooch, Billy et al.