10th June - We arrive !

We had a lovely calm trip on Scillonian III  and as usual it felt quite warm as we walked down the gang-plank. Here is the familiar sight of the Off Island boats lining up to load their luggage direct from SCIII

This nice French boat was just arriving

Rather a grey view down into the harbour from the steps of The Star Castle as we arrive to check in

Tuesday 11th June

Not a great start to the day - cloud and mist as Jim took the dogs out for their early morning walkies

The Ponies that belong to The Wildlife Trust came running over to the electric fence to check out the dogs - after a few days they realised that they took no notice of them and ignored us as we walked past

Small but exclusive (I gather!) cruise ship Islalnd Sky was just about visible

By the time we had eaten breakfast and got ready to go out, the fog was clearing and Island Sky was in the clear !

and Hangman Island and Bryher were clearly visible

Looking over a wonderfully pink (with Thrift)  Annet, to Bishop Rock Lighthouse

Always love to look over to St Agnes - so sad that we never got over there this time !

Guiding Star on her way over to St Agnes

Guiding Star is the oldest launch currently in operation within St. Mary's Boatmen's Association. Built in 1933 by Percie Michell in Portloe near Mevagissy, Cornwall, this boat is of Carvel construction and has been in the Badcock family for 42 years.

Think that this is Morning Point - as we walk around The Garrison

The new Porthcressa Shelter - housing the Tourist Information Centre and somewhere to sit with a wonderful view if the weather isn't kind.  It was just opened before we arrived.

This Norfolk Pine in a garden below the walls, has suffered a bit from the Winter winds

A panorama of the harbour as we walk through Hugh Town

Flag Iris along The Lower Moors Nature Trail as we make our way to Old Town

Seemed to be lots of Eels in the stream 

The reflections of the trees onto the water make taking photos of them very tricky

Looking back over to Tolman Cafe - home of the best Coffee & Walnut cake on the Islands !

Panorama of Old Town Bay as we start to walk up to Peninnis

Wonderful sky as we walk along

Cuckoo & Rock Pippit

Had never seen this before - some difference of opinion as to whether this is a Cuckoo chick with its surrogate "mother" the Rock Pippit,

or whether it is a female looking to lay an egg in the Rock Pippit's nest - but looking closely I think I can see a hint of a yellow gape on the Cuckoo - but perhaps I'm imagining it !

They flew off

Not a great landing

For many years we have tried to get a photo of the dogs on top of Peninnis - Wooster wasn't too bad, but his stance was a little too "heroic" for my liking !

But Tilly just wasn't interested !

Looking over Hugh Town as we make our way down

So lovely to see the Thrift still in flower - due to the cold Spring, they're usually all finished when we arrive on Scilly

Definitely Llamas

We stood chatting to a couple on one of the seats - then hearing a noise, looked up !

Two Llamas checking us all out !

Nice view looking over the end of Gugh to St Agnes

Porthcressa Beach

We got back to The  Garrison just as Scillonian III was executing her "handbrake turn" exit from the quay

Le Grand Lejon

This French vessel arrived in St Mary's just as we did on SCIII.

Built in 1992 Le Grand Lejon is from Brittany, she is a replica of a Baie de St. Brieuc fishing Lugger from the end of the 19th and start of the 20th Century - thanks Robin

Since the weather wasn't good, we had wandered down into Hugh Town and walked along the Quay to take a look

Pity she's not a genuine old boat, but she was obviously built by craftsmen

Looking towards Peninnis

The nasty wind pushing the waves up onto Peninnis

The Garrison Black Rabbits

The rain stopped later in the afternoon, so we took the dogs out for a walkies, where we had our f irst sighting of the famous Black Rabbits

Tilly checking with Wooster - whether or not they're going to bother to chase them

A bit wild

Looking out towards the Western Rocks as we set off to walk out to Juliet's Garden and then further around St Mary's

Firethorn & Voyager

Bryher Boats, Firethorn heading out of the harbour

and Voyager of St Martin's heading in

Grey clouds

Rather more clouds as we set off through Hugh Town and past the super view of the harbour

Here she comes !

As we sat at Juliet's Garden drinking our coffee, Scillonian III appeared on the other side of the narrow part of Hugh Town

Star Castle across on the other side of the bay - with our room on the far left hand side in the garden

Looking back along the coast towards the harbour

Wonderful views

Stunning views all the way along the footpath

Turquoise sea

Sea Ambulance the Star of Life splashing her way back to St Mary's