Day 282 Tuesday 24 Jul 2007 Bergen to Thurso, Scotland

An early start but when we pull back the curtains we can see that our ferry to Scotland is in advanced state of loading – well there’s a long queue of cars waiting to get on. So we saunter down to breakfast and eventually make our way round the harbour to the jetty where we drive on board as they hoist the gangplank. Its a pleasant voyage out through the skerries and coastal fjords, with the sky clearing. Soon we are in the midst of a calm, blue North Atlantic surrounded by oil platforms and supply ships. This must be why Norway has the most expensive petrol in Europe. The ship is Faeroese and although it doesn’t have any pyramids does have more puffin on the menu. I2 is again devastated so we settle for herring. We are entertained by Swedish and Icelandic pianists, extremely talented - must be to do with the long winter nights.

Eventually we reach Scotland just after midnight and after minimal border formalities - they didn't spot that the car wasnt British - set off in search of an hotel. We find the one we're booked into nearby but locked and barred at 1am. Despite ringing the bell and phoning them, we can here the phone ringing and someone snoring inside, can't seem to raise anyone. Creeping round the back, trying all the doors and windows, I2 finds a loose window in what looks like an empty bedroom. After only a moments hesitation, we climb in with our bags and fall asleep on the enormous bed, after having signed the register in the hallway.

In the morning whilst half way through a lavish scottish breakfast, the woman in charge suddenly realises that she didnt check us and is puzzled as to why we're here as she had us down for the following week. We're reluctant to reveal the shortcomings of her security systems so leave her to puzzle it out.