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Crew Dave's Spur of the
Moment One |
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SOC
CREW ACTIVITIES - May 2005 - Day 2 |
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Day 2 and this morning I was up at about 6.00am to get myself ready for
the day's going's on. I de-iced the car (honest it was iced solid!) and
made for the coast once more, joining the A78 and headed up along the
Ardrossan bypass and through Fairlie and into Largs. The Loch Alainn was
up and about already, picking up the commuters from Cumbrae. I parked up
at the marina car park to get some long distance shots of the ferry,
accompanied by the sound of Chris Moyles taking over from Nemone on Radio
1.
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Loch Alainn on the early roster, Jupiter behind |
Loch Alainn with Rothesay in the background |
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I didn't spend long in Largs as my intended route would take me over to
Rothesay. I moved location from the marina into Largs itself and got some
more photos from the parkland to the south of the pier. The island of Bute
provided a lovely backdrop for some further photographs of the Loch Alainn
arriving back from Cumbrae. As she docked I made my way north once again. |
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Saturn in the sun at Wemyss Bay
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As I reached Wemyss Bay the Jupiter was making her way over to Rothesay,
having left about 10 minutes earlier, while in the far distance the Saturn
could be seen emerging from the bay on Bute. I had some time to kill so I
went off to the ticket office, or rather what used to be the ticket
office. Some bright spark has decided it is a good idea to move the ticket
office right down to the far end of the pier, adjacent to the passenger
gangway. I would have bought my Hopscotch tickets from the little man in
the marshalling area - but of course the ticket-issuing machines don't do
Hopscotch do they! How about that for catching out unwary drivers who
arrive too shortly before departure time. (Rant over now). Anyway, by the
time I eventually got back to the car the Saturn was fast approaching. The
sunlight was absolutely perfect for getting some photos of her as she
swung round to the linkspan.
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Wemyss Bay's new gangway
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My tickets were checked before a crew member called me forward to board.
Having parked I went up onto the open deck from where I could see the new
passenger gangway currently under construction for when the new MV Bute
arrives in the UK. From what I could make out it looks like a similar
arrangement to the gangway in Oban. Presumably it will be used by whatever
ferry occupies the berth, as it is mounted on rails and can move along the
pier to the appropriate location.
Anyway, I could see the Loch Alainn to the south, sitting at Cumbrae
Slip once more, as the Saturn waited for the 8.00am departure time.
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We moved off at the appointed time and I went round onto the forward deck
for a view ahead. There was practically no wind this morning and the flag
at the bow was lying virtually unruffled. The Clyde was totally calm this
morning and before long the Jupiter was approaching on her next run to the
mainland. A quick exchange of horn-blowing took place between the youngest
and oldest streaker and I got some photos as we passed close by.
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Toward lighthouse, Cowal
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Jupiter with the hills of Arran behind
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As we progressed into Rothesay Bay, he clear conditions meant I could see
straight up the Kyles of Bute. Some miles away at the narrows, the secondary
Bute crossing was being operated by the Loch Dunvegan. It is unusual to be
able to see that far up, but this morning the weather was really spectacular
and the picture on the right show the Loch Dunvegan from a distance of about
6 miles.
We then swung round into Rothesay Bay and prepared to come alongside and
unload.
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Loch Dunvegan in the distant Kyles of Bute
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Once off the Saturn I made for my usual vantage point at the south-eastern
extreme of the bay. The streaker appeared from around the corner shortly
after and made her way out across the firth as the Jupiter made her way
slowly back to Bute. With a large memory card in the camera I no longer have
the problem of capacity so this morning I just snapped away without the
problem of running out of space or needing to download the contents.
As the Jupiter made her way back into the bay, I raced alongside so as to
get pictures of her berthing. Attempts to get a montage of pictures looking
right around the bay were less than successful however...
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One out...
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...and one in!
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Jupiter arriving at Rothesay
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I left the Jupiter behind in the rear view mirror as I made my way north
along the island to Rhubodach. I did my usual trick of arriving just as the
ferry was about to leave. Again I was the last aboard before the ramp was
brought up and we traversed the Kyles.
I was hoping to get further than I did today, but I had to head south
early in the afternoon, hence I did not board the ferry to Tarbert across
Loch Fyne. Instead I made for Dunoon and the third of the streakers. I came
down the side of the Holy Loch one of the red tea-trays (possibly Sound of
Sanda) was making its way from the spare vessel berth to Hunters Quay. I
drove straight past the red ferries' terminal and continued through Kirn to
Dunoon where the Juno was approaching on her way over from Gourock.
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Unfortunately the sun was still to the south-east so pictures of the Juno
weren't that great. She was a couple of minutes late, due to having to take
a wide berth around one of the re ferries which passed in front of her.
The tide was very low and after the 15 cars were offloaded from the
ferry, our queue of 8 cars and two wagons made our ways down the steeply
angled linkspan and in through the starboard ramp and onto the car deck. We
left a couple of minutes late and crossed the flat-calm Clyde once more.
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Juno approaching Dunoon pier
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During the winter there is usually a spare vessel berthed at Gourock just
beyond the linkspan - now that the summer timetable is in operation Gourock
was empty.
We swung round to berth stern first at the linkspan and I was soon off.
After eventually getting out onto the main road I made my way south. Just
after Cloch lighthouse I spotted a conveniently located parking area and
vantage point. I figured that I had enough time to park up and get to the
end of the path before Juno came into view once more. I was able to track
her as she crossed in front of Hunters Quay and on towards Dunoon.
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Juno making her way out past Cloch lighthouse...
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...and alongside at Dunoon
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And on her way back to Gourock
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Soon enough I was back in the car as the Juno disappeared back round out of
sight, past Cloch lighthouse once again. It was now late morning and I
decided to go and get another set of photos at Ardrossan. (Last night's set
weren't that good because the sun was too far round).
I passed Wemyss Bay just as the Saturn was loading for her next crossing
and as I came along the seafront at Largs the Loch Alainn was just lowering
her ramp as she swung round the end of the pier. I got to Ardrossan this
time with plenty of time to spare.
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At the car park near the terminal I was remembered from the previous day,
having denied the woman in the portakabin any parking charges yesterday. She
moaned that yesterday her figures hadn't balanced as a ticket had been
issued but I had only stayed for a short time. I parked up and went up onto
the breakwater ledge once again; this time I was in plenty of time to get
some decent pictures of the Caledonian Isles as she came into the harbour.
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Caledonian Isles in the sunshine
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Arriving into Ardrossan harbour
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With the arrival of Caledonian Isles my short trip north was over. This
evening I had to be back home, so after the congestion of an incoming full
load from Arran had passed through, I set off back towards the M74 and home.
So ends this diary - until the SoC June trip that is!
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 SoC Useful Links: |
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To see a more detailed description of the islands and photos, visit
Undiscovered Scotland and click on a place. |
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To view details of the crossings we have been on see the
Crossings
section, or for the vessels featured in this diary, see Ships
of the Fleet and click on a vessel name. |
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