Originally, I wasn’t planning on flying out until next week to catch my connecting flights but the weather looked a bit iffy {if it’s windy, the plane doesn’t fly}. Since there are no flights on the weekends during the winter, I had to decide what I was going to do about trying to get off the island.
In the end, I decided to play it safe and chose to leave a few days early as the weather looked pretty decent.
Which of course meant I had to call and change my flight off the island. Then I had to re-book my flights from Lerwick to Aberdeen, then the flight from Aberdeen to London, then London to Boston.
It took a while… but in the end it only cost me £28 in booking fees so it wasn’t a big deal.
Marshall, the same pilot who flew me to Fair Isle was again my pilot off the island so that was fun. It was an easy flight and as soon as we landed I hopped in a taxi that took me to downtown Lerwick so I could pop into a few shops.
The first one was Jamieson Wool. It only occurred to me after stepping foot into the store that if I wanted to buy something, I didn’t have an inch to spare in my backpack or tote bag to bring it home with me.
So I left empty handed. 🙁
Even though I couldn’t buy anything, I did pop into The Shetland Times Bookstore as well to take a look at their Shetland specific books with the hopes that I’d be able to order the ones I wanted when I got home.
I felt weird to walk into a shop that I was genuinely interested in and not buy anything. I know people do it all the time, but I’m not someone who likes to browse so it was painfully awkward for me to leave empty handed.
After walking around Commercial street for a bit I headed down to the harbor area and then walked to the Shetland Museum and Archives which was about a half mile away.
I had a few hours before I needed to be at Sumburgh airport for my flight to Aberdeen and I knew the museum had a cafe {and a place to drop my bags} so it seemed like the perfect way to spend my last few hours in Shetland.
After the museum I headed to the airport to wait for my flight.
And then after my flight {the second of the day} spent the night in Aberdeen {with free hotel points!}.
I had a good laugh when I noticed the display of Fireball at the Aberdeen airport because seriously, I just can’t seem to escape the stuff.
At first I thought Fireball was just an East Coast thing… but apparently they like it in Scotland too. {I’ll stick to tea thank you very much}.
The flight from Aberdeen to London was pretty full but somehow I lucked out again and got an entire row to myself.
When we landed at Heathrow I had about an hour and forty five minutes until my next flight but I decided not to dilly dally because I knew I still had to get through customs, then security again and walk to my gate {Heathrow is HUGE and the gates are far apart, at least the ones I’m always going to}.
And it’s a good thing I didn’t take the time to look around or stop and get something to drink because by the time I finally got to my gate, they were nearly done boarding my flight. It was crazy.
But I made it on the plane… and then onto the bus in Boston and then finally to the bus depot in Portland where the HH was waiting for me. 🙂
4 flights, 4 taxis and 1 bus in 36 hours.
I think I’ve had my fill of traveling for a while. 🙂
It’s good to be home.
~Mavis
Pauline in Upstate NY says
What a grand adventure, Mavis — and in a place of luminous winter beauty… Who knew that Scotland in the winter was so gorgeous?? I’ll be looking forward to hearing more as you reflect on all of it over the months to come. What did you miss from home? Could you actually live on an island? So much fun being with you vicariously… Thanks for your faithfulness in continuing daily posts throughout!
Patti Vanderbloemen says
Welcome home!
Jennifer says
Welcome home. I can’t wait to read the synopsis of everything!
Kim says
Agree with Pauline.
I presume you had to ship your supplies back. Wonder how the time will compare with shipping it there.
Rest up.
Kathy Wolfe says
I was wondering about your supplies also. Hope they speed back to you. Glad you made it home smoothly.
Maureen says
Seems as though Lerwick might be a nice place to visit too, especially for those of us not adventurous enough to go all the way to Fair Isle.
carrie says
I just read a story about a lawsuit against Fireball about those bottles you find on the ground all the time. Apparently the cinnamon fireball contains no whisky and the purchasers are claiming they were mislead. I didn’t read the whole article so I am not sure what they actually contained.
Holley says
I can only imagine how excited the Puggle Princess was to see you (and the HH)! Welcome home!
LaToya says
It went by too fast – – maybe with leaving a little early?
I bet Lucy was over-the-moon happy to see you.
What a crazy cool solo trip!
suzanne says
Welcome home. I love flights when you enter/exit the plane directly from the tarmac. My HH leased a building several years ago. We were cleaning out the office area and I opened a box on a bookshelf and guess what was in it? Yup, unopened Fireball.
Joanna says
Thank God! Welcome home!! What an adventure… Thanks for sharing!!
Linda Sand says
Welcome home. I enjoyed your trip.
kathy says
Welcome home! So glad you had the Oporto visit Fair Isle and a bit of Lerwick ❤️
Heather says
Welcome home. Either you are really lucky or flights have gotten better. My husband always had flight issues when he traveled.
Kristen says
What a fabulous documentary of your trip. Thank you so much for letting us travel vicariously through you! And it should be noted that fireball is quite delicious in hot chocolate and especially hot cider.
Rj says
Enjoyed your vacay with you! Just wondering…. Did you have to send anything back to the states that you had been waiting to arrive at the beginning of your stay, or did you use most everything?
Mavis Butterfield says
I was able to use everything. I had 2 boxes sent ahead. One box was there when I arrived and the second one came a week after I got to the studio.
Sue S. says
Back to Maine on what sounds like an uneventful but tiring trip home. Bet you were glad to be back. Parting is such sweet sorrow but here’s to those hearty souls who get to call Fair Isle home! Hip, hip, hooray!
Nancy says
Thank you so much for sharing your trip! Fascinating posts and beautiful pictures!!
Sharon says
It’s always nice to go somewhere but wonderful to return home. Thanks very much for sharing your solo adventure with us. I really enjoyed reading about your trip and I loved the pictures you shared of beautiful Fair Isle. I imagine your hubby and the puggle princess where both very happy to have you back home!
Christy Rose says
I live in California and Fireball is a popular “beverage” here too.
Julie P says
Glad you got home safe and we were, as uk residents, amazed at the small amount of booking fees! We just escaped the U.K. weather for our annual trip to Spain We got to the eurotunnel a little early and they said we could go on an earlier train with the RV at an extra cost of £106 for a 23 mile journey under The Channel! Obviously we said no thank you we will walk the dogs and have breakfast and wait for an hour! It’s been wonderful reading about your trip to Fair Isle thanks for sharing. Bet the HH is glad to have you home.
Trace S says
I enjoyed every post.
Home sweet Home..
Thank you for sharing and taking us all along,
Woolie Blessings
Rhonda R Relyea says
ahhh, there’s no place like home! That sweet Lucy missed her momma, for sure! I so thoroughly enjoyed your trip and all your photos and narrative! I doubt I’ll ever visit such a great place so thank you for sharing it with us!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks says
Welcome home Mavis! I thoroughly enjoyed being the “armchair traveler” along for your journey. I echo what Pauline said about Fair Isle in the winter. It was so beautiful and green! Thank you for taking the time to be such a documentarian for all of us back here. I learned so much about Fair Isle. Glad your return trip was uneventful. Rest up and enjoy time with the HH and Lucy.
Cat says
Thank you for sharing your journey, I’m sure your sweet pup is happy to have you home.
Nancy D says
Thank you for sharing your beautiful trip!
Lisa says
Thanks for sharing. Loved following this trip. The beautiful sweaters I would have worn it home
Curious as how much they went for. ❤️❤️
Mavis Butterfield says
I think I remember seeing them priced at 85 pounds and up. VERY reasonable!
debbie in alaska says
I would have bought every single sweater on that rack in the wool shop. Swoon.
Nancy S says
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I am sure HH and puggle Princess are happy to see you.
Gail Golden says
What a great trip. I’m sure the solitude got your creative juices flowing!
I was intrigued when you mentioned Fair Isle and Shetland because hubby and I love watching the Brit Box show called Shetland. The new season just started a couple of weeks ago.