First thing Friday morning and a queue of over 200 wait to board PS Waverley on a rather grey and overcast morning - but the forecast for the weekend was good!
By now with well over 400 on board, following her calls at Greenock and Campbeltown, Waverley rocks and rolls her way around the Mull of Kintyre.
This far it has remained grey and overcast during the voyage, despite reports from home of
loads of blue sky and sunshine back in Glasgow since we left. With a stiff (cold) breeze,
passengers remain wrapped up but Waverley is heading for that spot of blue in the distance.
This far it has remained grey and overcast during the voyage, despite reports from home of
loads of blue sky and sunshine back in Glasgow since we left. With a stiff (cold) breeze,
passengers remain wrapped up but Waverley is heading for that spot of blue in the distance.
A few miles can make all the difference!Soon all the coats were coming off, the bottles of suncream were being dug out
of the bottom of rucksacks, and the cream was being liberally applied as we
enjoyed the last five or so hours of the voyage in the most idylic sailing conditions.
If only we could "bottle" such a Waverley experience!
Looking back down the sound of Kerrera as we approached Oban Bay
A sun drenched Oban Bay with Calmac's Isle of Mull and Clansman at their linkspans.Despite all the suncream, it was a very colourful, but very satisfied, load of passengers who streamed up the gangway onto Oban North Pier, just after 20:00 hrs. It was quite amusing to hear the conversations on the pier along the lines of "Does anyone know where such and such hotel or B&B is?". However, the vast majority are seasoned travellers who stay in the same places year on year, and for these ones you had to be careful not to be trampled in the rush as they made their bee lines with trolleys and bags.
For approximately 200 of Waverley's passengers, the journey still had a fair bit to go with return coach travel to Glasgow. The "Dodds of Troon" convoy was soon assembled
and set off back to Glasgow where we arrived just about on the dot of timetable time at 23:00
One of Dodds buses is seen here heading along the shore of Loch Etive
and set off back to Glasgow where we arrived just about on the dot of timetable time at 23:00
One of Dodds buses is seen here heading along the shore of Loch Etive
An advantage of the later than originally planned visit to Oban, is more hours ofdaylight with the return trip to Glasgow being almost all in daylight, and through some
really lovely scenery - which compensates greatly for the necessary coach journey -
as seen above and below.
Many of the passengers returning to Glasgow on Friday night still have plans to goback sometime over the weekend to sail again on Waverley in the Western Isles.
The Sunday evening sailing from Oban to Fort William and back has been arranged
as a Ceilidh Cruise with entertainment being provided by Oban Gaelic Choir
The cruise is intended to raise funds for both PS Waverley and
the annual Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival.
Details are below - the weather looks really promising and it
should be a great night of traditional Scottish entertainment.
Please come along and support the evening cruise
if you can be in Oban on Sunday night
Charles McCrossan
Clyde Marine tugs Boojum Bay and Beaver Bay assemble on the dock wall ready to assist.
The dry dock gates open and the tugs take up position.
Waverley's deck crew get a line out to the tug as the paddler's bow edges clear of the dry dock entrance.
Waverley looking a million dollars - glistening in the afternoon sun - complete with new Edward Waverley on her starboard paddle box. The previous one was washed away during her particularly stormy passage down the Irish Sea en route to the Solent last year. The new one was cast from a special resin by volunteer 
The tugs begin to turn Waverley and head towards Custom House Quay - a regular calling point for the ship during her Clyde season.
Coming alongside - note the bow rope already ashore. Once safely tied up works would proceed to ready her for passengers on Friday 29th May.
Whilst all the attention was on Waverley the vessel with which she had shared the dry dock with for the past 8 days - Irish roro ferry Foyle Rambler emerged and headed down river eventually out to sea to return to Ireland. Must have been interesting when she got to open sea!!
