IN SEARCH OF THE LAST SHETLAND SHEEPDOG BREEDERS IN SHETLAND
feet] high above the sea, including the spectacular flight of Skuas, the largest predatory gulls, attempting to steal away the catch of other Gulls and Gan- nets. Proof again that this is no place to bring around a pet Sheltie; not just for the cliffs, but also for the Skuas that would not hesitate to attack them, dive-bombing them, claws and beak open, if the dogs should wander near the nests hidden in the grass. It was such a fascinating sight that I forgot about the hour, and I suddenly realized that I had to hurry to be on time for dinner in the guesthouse. Suddenly, I started to realize that distances are very rela- tive. Darkness started to fall and there was nobody to ask for the direction, or even a house or phone around. Mobile phones were not common then, and if so, it was not certain that there was any reach. Suddenly, a car stopped and the other guests of the home stepped out. My guests were very worried and had started a search. If they would not have found me, a search and rescue team would have been formed to look for me. I was very embarrassed to have caused all this trouble. The next day, they took me to a place where there would be a chance to see sea otters in real life. It was a spot without cliffs, but instead, a small, golden sand beach. I say a “golden beach” and this it really was. Two giant rocks of silicate stood aside from the beach. They were losing flakes of sili- cate in the sand and these reflected their oily-colored shades. Mixed with the sand around, it looked like the beach was covered all over in golden glitter; a brilliant sight. The beach was covered all over with paw prints, ending in a hole nearby. Clearly, they were paw prints from a sea otter family, but unfortunately, no otters to be seen. I was then brought to another place for a nice walk along an elliptical bay. The starting point was at an old abandoned graveyard facing towards the sea. What an amazing last resting place, prob- ably the most beautiful spot to be buried. I checked the names as far as they were readable, and it was fascinating to find out that it was merely people from around 1900 and somewhat later. But what surprised me most was that the average age of their death was very high, almost as high as nowadays, and this was unusual for that time. It’s probably proof that the harsh life on the islands was not necessarily life-shortening. Walking along the cliffs, I met some cormorants. And while looking out over the water, I suddenly spotted a few porpoises. A little further, I heard the blowing of a whistle, and when I looked up, I saw a man on the hills, direct- ing his Border Collie to collect the sheep that were all around. The dog was running high speed, and it was dawning on me again that this would not be the work for a Sheltie. Fog surprised me again, suddenly, but this time I was right on time at the meeting point to be picked up again by my hosts. The morning of my last day in Unst threatened to end, literally, into a misty cloud. But Mrs. Edmondston advised me to walk to a tiny reserve nearby… where a flower bloomed, unique in the world. I quickly found it. But not being a botanist, I did not know what to look for as there were many sorts of beautiful, tiny flowers all over. As the area was no larger than a foot- ball field, I stepped over the fence and continued for a walk. Mist and cliffs are never a good combination, and I was aware of the danger. My senses were on edge. Not far from the fence that I’d climbed over, I heard the sound of the sea, and so I slowed down my pace and approached carefully until the sight cleared in front of me and I found out that I was very near to the edge of a cliff. Curious to see how high I was, I layed down on my belly. At least 50 to 100 meters [164 to 328 feet] below me, three seals were lazily lying on a flat rock that stood out of the sea. Fascinating! A few photos later, I was on my way again along the edge of the cliffs. They were going down, but it was easy walking and the weather seemed to clear up a little. At some point, it felt like I was being watched, but I waved away the thought until I looked into the sea and spotted the head of a seal in the water, following me with prying eyes. How funny was that?! Suddenly, he was gone, and so I proceeded with my walk. Not far away, he was back, his piercing eyes pointed at me. He dove again, only to reappear a little further, but this time he must have called for his friends as I saw not one pair of eyes following my steps, but three! They followed like this for almost a kilometer long. What a lovely meeting!
84 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021
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