Finally, after years of yearning. This was a far more accomplishable trip, unlike my other dreams of going to South Africa, Madagascar, South America and the likes.
We made it off the coast from the Seahouses harbour, and spent a good four hours circling the handful of Farne Islands. Thousands of seabirds – gannets, terns, guillemots, cormorants, shags, puffins. Saw colonies of grey seals too. Made a landing on Inner Farne, the largest of the islands. The Artic and Common terns got real close, so close you’d trip over them or get shat on if you’re not careful. Puffins flew clumsily overhead with rows of fish in their bills. They had short fencing and proper boarded footpaths so it did feel a bit like a zoo or a wetland centre. It was amazing out there nevertheless.