A trip on the Golden Mariana

Today’s the day we have a day trip to Papa Westray. We have two choices; a trip on a ferry called Golden Mariana or a two-minute flight.

Looks like it’ll be the ferry today.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I’m told it’s incorrect to refer to ships as ‘she’ now. That’s a problem, since the English language seems to lack a singular non-gender-specific equivalent of ‘she’, other than the singular ‘they’. I suppose I could always refer to it as ‘it’. I feel the harbourmaster would find me referring to his ferry as ‘it’ very impersonal. I once referred to my friend’s dog as ‘it’ and they (singular) were deeply offended. For my part I don’t see why I should have to check a dog’s genitals before referring to it. Do you?

Anyway, the Golden Mariana really is the puppy’s privates.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

She was built in Devon in 1973.

I wonder when this bollard was put on the harbour at Gill Pier? That’s if bollard is the correct name and I’m not talking a load of bollards.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The ferry is remarkably rust-free despite its age, which is more than you can say of me.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I am slightly concerned that the large fire-hose sized plume of water spurting out of the back is water which is leaking into the boat. Is that clearing the bilges or am I talking bilge?

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A frayed knot.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

As we chug out of the harbour I wonder what we’ll see on our trip in Papa Westray.

The Golden Mariana to Papa Westray - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I hope you’ll join me on our adventure as I post what we find over the next few days.

Feel free to leave a Reply :)