A fantastic round up of the voyage! THE BALLAD OF LN783
Among all the tall ships at Lerwick
We found the Lord Nelson at berth
With plenty ashore to give pleasure
Bjorn again gave us our money’s worth.
Bring back, O bring back
Bring back Lord Nelson to me, to me!
Bring back, O bring back
O bring back Lord Nelson to me.
The wind blew and blew, so we stayed put;
We shopped and we walked th’ extra mile.
Our bonus a trip round the island
Seeing seabirds and Saint Ninian’s Isle.
Bring back etc.
We visited other good vessels
The Gloria by far was the best.
Her cadets were so spruce and so handsome –
They’d come to our shores from the West.
Bring back . . .
The fourth day the wind dropped and the sun shone
We soon got away and made sail
And ran all the way into Kirkwall
Reversing to berth top to tail.
Bring back . . .
Then ashore for sight-seeing and bussing –
First stop Highland Park, make no bones!
Then on to the Italian Chapel,
Scapa Flow, Scara Brae, standing stones.
Bring back . . .
Don’t think it was all so dead serious.
A good time was had in the bar,
With ribaldry even from granny –
(That really was going too far.)
Bring back . . .
Now watch out,for here comes our Harry
An acrobat in his wheelchair
Never likely to suffer fools gladly
Especially the women – beware!
Bring back . . .
In Kirkwall the day dawned with sunshine:
A wonderful chance for a climb.
Assisted by Martin they went up,
James, Helen, and Heather one last time.
Bring back . . .
After lunch we then sailed off the mooring
But had to change tack fairly soon.
We then motored south to the mainland
And anchored off Wick, bonny toon.
Bring back . . .
Up early, up anchor the next day,
The wind once again from nor’west.
So let go those clewlines and buntlines
And haul away guys, do your best.
Bring back . . .
To make sure we turn out our smartest
We need the t’gallant up there.
So up go the BMs and bosun
To bend her on after repair.
Bring back . . .
Then finally – here ends my saga,
We sailed south to fair Aberdeen.
So farewell shipmates, lads and lasses
I’ll see pics of you on the screen.
Bring back . . .
Heather.