On Monday we set sail at 9:45am on the The Swan. We were all waving to our mums and our dads. The only child who wasn't sick was Hannah and the only adult that was sick was Robert. It was a long trip to Orkney and we arrived at about the back of 3:00pm.

A lady named Sylvia Thorne picked us up in the mini bus from Sanday pier. We all went to her house and had buns, tea and coffee. After a while her husband Rod came and had some buns too. After we went outside and saw Spike the sheep and played with a Frisbee. We then got back onto the bus and went to the school.

We went to the play park. There was a zip line and we all had a shot of it. It was really good fun! After when all the adults came out then Gina, Ian and Mrs McCaffery had a go too. We then all went back to the The Swan and went fishing. Tom caught 1 fish. Gina, Mrs McCaffery, Hannah, Cara and Vivian went to the beach to look for otters because Sylvia said that they come to the beach sometimes. We didn't see any but we found loads of nice shells. We then went back to The Swan and went to bed.
Vivian (12)

On Tuesday we woke up at about 6:00pm and set sail for Kirkwall. It took us about two hours. When we arrived at Kirkwall we had our breakfast.
 

After breakfast us children were allowed an hour in the town by ourselves. The boys went into all the fishing shops. Later we walked down the town to St Magnus Cathedral to meet the adults and have a . look in the kirk. There were lots of stained glass windows.

Next we went to Earls Palace whilst Ian and Mrs McCaffery went to get the cars. We climbed to the very top and looked at Orkney. After we went to a

museum. There were lots of old cameras. One of the cameras was one that a person had to step inside to get their photo taken Afterwards we went back to the Swan for lunch.

After lunch we went to Skara Brae a Neolithic village, Ring of Brodgar, Maes Howe and the Italian chapel. The Italian chapel was made of two Nissan huts joined together.
 

Later we went to the Churchill barriers. The barriers were built during world war two by Italian prisoners of war to stop German U-boats from entering Scapa Flow. Afterwards we went swimming. It was great! Then we went back for tea.

We had a party for Duncan. The crew had hung up balloons and streamers for Duncan's birthday. We had 2 cakes, one chocolate and one plain.
Cara (10)

On Wednesday Robert, Ian, Cara, Hannah, and Vivian got in the car and Gina, Mrs McCaffery, Stewart, Tom, Calum, Duncan and Lachlan went in the Minibus. The people in the car had to lead the way. We were going to the ferry to take us to Hoy. As soon as we got to Hoy we parked the car and minibus.

All of us apart from Robert (who took a walk on the near by beach) walked a 3-mile walk to the old man of Hoy. When we got to the old man of Hoy we had a picnic of crisps, chocolate, jaffa cakes and tea cakes. On the way back we took a shortcut. When we got back we had our lunch.

After lunch we went to the Dawarfie Stane. It was excellent! Then we went to a Museum at Lyness and watched a short film and then we went back to the ferry. After we headed back to THE SWAN.
Hannah (9)

On Thursday morning we set off on The Swan for Shapinsay. We arrived on the island just after ten.  Mrs. Zawadski's daughter met us and took us to see round the gardens of Balfour Castle and afterwards Mrs Zawadski showed us around the castle. Back on The Swan we had lunch of fried eggs and bacon rolls while we were sailing to Papa Westray, and on the way we did some fishing and caught some piltocks.
 

At Papa Westray we visited the local school and had a game of rounders with all the children. The school children stayed on after school and we had tea at the school. After tea we visited St. Boniface, a small chapel. When we got back to The Swan we discovered that the ferry would soon be requiring the mooring that The Swan was using so we cast off and set sail that evening for Westray. We arrived about 8.30pm and had time for a walk into the town before bedtime.
Calum (12)

On Thursday midnight we set off for Fair Isle. We arrived about 6.30pm. We all woke up and had breakfast. After that all the cars started to come and pick us up. Then we all went home. It had been a great trip.
Lachlan (9)

We needed some adults to help us on the trip so Ian, Robert, Gina and Stewart agreed to join us.  They were all running around after us, telling us about Orkney and driving the cars.  Thank you Gina, Robert, Ian & Stewart.
Duncan (10)

It was very good to go on a trip on the Swan. All the children, Gina and Mrs. McCaffery slept for'ard. Calum slept on the table because it was too smelly aft. The bunks were tiny and we all banged our heads on the under side of the deck.

The crew did all the cooking and the food was excellent. Duncan had 2 birthday cakes, one from Jude and one from the crew. The crew decorated the Swan for Duncan's birthday. There were balloons, streamers, party blowers and we had lovely lasagne for tea.

Some of us had bonbons from the crew on the. way to Papa Westray: Andrew, Don and Robbie, the crew, looked after us very well. We have to say a big thank you to them for giving us such a good school trip.
Tom (10)

Anyone interested can see photos of
The Swan Trip on display in the school porch - or click the link above!