A Very Busy Easter 2004 – Part 2

Easter Saturday

Report by Stuart Cameron

 

 

Another good loading was apparent as Waverley left Glasgow Anderston Quay at 10am on Easter Saturday for cruise to Tighnabruaich in the famed Kyles of Bute. Passengers attention was attracted to the significant new developments of the Glasgow Harbour project. At Meadowside Quay on the north bank of the River Clyde, where the Meadowside Granary (the largest brick-built building in Europe) had stood until 2002, a large number of new high amenity housing developments ate taken place, as shown in Stuart Cameron’s picture below

 

 

Further down river a more traditional Clyde scene existed in the form of the former ‘Yarrow’ shipyard, which like Govan, is now operated by BAE Systems. The Scotstoun shipyard has commenced work on the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyer, which will be named HMS Daring when launched in 2005 . Currently there are no signs of the T45’s on view but the three Offshore Patrol Vessels Nakhoda Ragam, Bendahara Sakam and Jerambak which are being built for the Royal Brunei Navy were evident. Stuart Cameron’s picture below shows Jerambak fitting out at Elderslie Wall.

 

 

Calling at Greenock Waverley picked up another significant load of passengers. John Crae’s picture below captures two of them (waving) – Alistair Black, a stalwart of the ship’s volunteer winter work parties on the left and Clydesite webmaster Bruce Biddulph, on the right.

 

 

Setting off from Greenock, Waverley headed over to Helensburgh and Dunoon before heading down into ‘Sweet Rothesay Bay’ where she is seen arriving and departing in the following fine pictures by John Anderston.

 

 

Bliss. God is in His heaven and there is a steamer at Tighnabruaich pier. Waverley made her first call of 2004 at this Clyde institution after traversing the Kyles of Bute.  Tighnabruaich has now been the paddler's regular Saturday destination for over quarter of a century. Some people have been making the pilgrimage virtually every week during the season for most of that time. Each have their favourite target during their 70 minute run ashore. By far the most popular local attraction is Suzy's, nearest the pier, to enjoy a coffee, jam scone, strawberry tart, currant cake, 99 or double nougat. Some, in search of less temperate refreshment, reach the Tighnabruaich Hotel. The fittest have been known to reach the Royal Hotel at Auchenlochan, consume two cool pints and be ascending the paddlers gangway just as her steam whistle signals her impending departure. More easy now that 'Sultry Sophia' is no longer there to distract their attention from the proximity of ambient time to the steamer's departure. Some unfit despots cheat and take a taxi to and from the far distant Kames Hotel. Sadly, the old wet weather 'bolthole' option of heading towards Port Drishaig at the head of the pier for a visit to that eccentric and altogether more 'different' establishment that was the Chalet Hotel has not been possible since the piano fell through the floor (allegedly) and the place was condemned some years ago.

Over 300 passengers disembarked from Waverley at Tighnabruaich on Easter Saturday 2004.

It was good to see that ever faithful Tighnabruaich worthy, Angus, up for his first bout of the season of dodging the monkey's paw. Angus has obviously been reading up on his ISO18001 legislation requirements during his winter somnolence as he was resplendent in his new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment to the uninitiated) today - a shiny, bright yellow hard hat.  Stuart Cameron’s picture shows Waverley at Tighnabruaich on Easter Saturday.

 

 

On her return to Greenock that evening Gary Lucas captured this fine ‘bow-on’ shot of Waverley approaching the Custom House Quay.

 

 

When she left Greenock to sail back up the Clyde to Glasgow the paddler was ‘pursued’ by Jamie Shorthouse, who also assists in Waverley’s engineroom during some of the ship’s Clyde sailings. Jamie was in pursuit of a few more good pictures on the Mighty Paddler.

 

 

Return to Waverley 2004 Season Home Page