SOC CREW OUTINGS - April 2005

SOC CREW OUTINGS - April 2005; Day 1

Just after 2.00am this morning I set off from home in the pitch black and under a clear sky. This was the first day of an eight day jaunt around the Hebrides and following a five hour drive from home to the Clyde, I was ready to board the first ship of the week at Wemyss Bay. With my wallet relieved of over 250.00 for 8 day rover tickets, I had nothing to do but wait for the Jupiter approach. This morning was very murky, and from Wemyss Bay it was impossible to make Bute out across the water - in fact it wasn't even possible to tell where the sea met the sky on the horizon! I could only just make Toward Point out in the distance - and the Saturn as she headed up the Firth to Dunoon.

The Jupiter arrived a few minutes early and soon shifted round to berth stern in at the linkspan. This was the first crossing of the day and as a result she was fully loaded and took an eternity to clear all her traffic. I am surprised this morning's crossing wasn't busier, with it being a Sunday and everything, but no - there were only 7 cars including mine on the 8.45am sailing to Bute. Also with it being Sunday, we didn't pass anything coming the other way (Saturn and Juno were engaged in changeover stuff at Dunoon)

Jupiter approaching Wemyss Bay

We pulled into Rothesay on Bute just after 9.10am and the captain 'parked' the ship with precision at the linkspan - set into the face of the pier. As I drove up the linkspan I could see the little Marnock tied up to my right, at the inner berth and out of service. As I headed round to the south of Rothesay Bay I could see the Juno turning off Toward Point. Handover had been completed and Juno was making her way to Rothesay to take over the second ferry roster on the Bute service. She passed my viewpoint and disappeared round the corner to the pier - seconds before the Jupiter came into view as she made her way across to the mainland. The light conditions weren't exactly great for getting photographs but that didn't stop me from trying. Some photos turned out ok and others would require editing on the computer later...

As Jupiter disappeared into the mist, I got back into the car and returned to Rothesay before heading north along the Kyles of Bute to Rhubodach and the short hop over to the Cowal peninsula once more.

Juno ready to take up service on Bute

As I approached Rhubodach I could see the Loch Dunvegan in the distance as the mist cleared. She was already on Bute, but as I was at least a couple of miles away I was convinced that she would sail before I got there. I could see by the clock that I was going to be pushed to get to Portavadie in time for pictures from the far side of the bay, so a 20 minute wait for the ferry to return from Colintraive was the last thing I wanted. Thankfully, something was on my side this morning and the master of the Loch Dunvegan must have seen me approaching. I ducked round a rather stupidly parked lorry and onto the slipway before joining the 4 other cars on the car deck. As soon as I was up on the car deck the ramp was raised and we sailed for Cowal.

Isle of Cumbrae waiting to load traffic for Tarbert

Upon reaching Colintraive I was the last to leave the vessel, and on presenting my rover tickets for inspection I was asked where I'd be heading over the next 8 days. The lady on duty commented on how clean my car looked - at which I assured her that in 8 days time my car would certainly NOT look like it did this morning!

I set off out of Colintraive and up the east side of Loch Riddon. Why is it that when I am in a hurry I always get stuck behind the only caravan within miles??? A suitable length of straight road and I overtook the scourge of the motorist, consigning the view of it solely to my rear view mirror...the best place for it!

It took a little over half an hour to reach Portavadie and on the approach I could see the Isle of Cumbrae heading inbound from Tarbert. My parking was not something to write home about and it was literally a case of dump the car and leg it around to the far side of Portavadie bay. I didn't stand a chance of making it round to the headland because I hadn't left myself enough time - instead I had to settle for a clearing in the trees a few minutes from the car which gave me a side-on view of the terminal.

The former Cumbrae and Fishnish ferry duly came in and exchanged the cars on her car deck for those waiting at the slipway, and after just a few minutes she sailed once again. As she headed out, I made my way back to the car and started the queue for the next crossing. It turned out that in the hour before the next sailing, no other would-be passengers turned up and so when I drove onto the ferry, mine was the only car on board.

I had planned to go to Oban via the island of Arran today, however I was told just yesterday that the Lochranza service was off due to mechanical trouble. With no guarantee that the ferry would be back on today I had little alternative other than to abandon the Arran leg of the journey - hence why I went via Bute and Loch Fyne today instead. When I got to Tarbert and off the Isle of Cumbrae I made for Claonaig, just 12 minutes away. If the ferry was on then there would be an arrival in a short while, so what did I have to lose?

Once again my progress was slow, this time because of 4 cyclists in the middle of the single-track road and were too selfish to let me pass. I eventually overtook them on a slightly wider section of road and made it into Claonaig just as the ferry approached. It wasn't the regular vessel; Loch Tarbert - she was tied up out of service at Largs earlier this morning. Instead the smaller Loch Riddon had been sent round from her regular haunt at Cumbrae to keep the Arran run open, albeit with a reduced capacity.

Loch Riddon relieving at a murky Claonaig

The smaller Loch remained at the slipway for a few minutes after the traffic had loaded, and at the appointed time she raised her ramp and pulled away. It was at this point that some poor unfortunate couple came racing down onto the slipway - just in time to see the ferry sail away. I couldn't help having no sympathy for this guy, especially when he blew his horn and flashed his lights in an attempt to get the ferry to come back specially for him.

Loch Riddon departing with the 1235 to Lochranza...
...as this bloke on the right turned up late

Clansman on her way to the Outer Hebrides

I left the latecomers to their 80 minute wait for the Loch Riddon to come back. I was too late to get to Kennacraig to see the Hebridean Isles as she had already sailed for Port Ellen. Instead I headed north to Lochgilphead and Oban.

As I reached the esplanade in Oban there were several vessels already around. Clansman was at the linkspan with her visor raised. Lord of the Isles was sitting at the fuel berth at the Railway Pier, out of service and the Eigg and Bruernish were sat at their south pier berths.

With my phone ringing intermittently for the last 5 miles, I pulled in on the sea front and rang the culprit back while waiting for some movement in the bay. I was alerted to the Clansman's departure by the passenger announcement chimes ringing out across the still air of the bay. I made my excuses to finish the phone call and grabbed the camera. As Clansman made her way across the bay towards Kerrera, Pole Star came into view outside the bay. The lighthouse servicing vessel slowed down to let the mighty Clansman proceed with her journey through the mist to Castlebay on Barra.

Shortly after the Clansman disappeared, the inbound Isle of Mull emerged and made her final approach to Oban. As she approached she slowed right down although I didn't try for photos as I already had lots from where I was standing, over by the lighthouse at the bay entrance. The Mull ferry was running a little late, and as I went into town for food, she left immediately after loading, in a bid to make up some time. Lord of the Isles too was preparing to sail - with smoke now visible from her twin funnels. She sailed empty shortly after the Isle of Mull, turning south and making her way down the Sound of Kerrera.

Nearly an hour later, and while eating my rather expensive and bland sandwich I received a text from Alan, our SoC Chief News Reporter who was today returning home from a week on Tiree. He was in the Sound of Mull on board the Isle of Arran. Ahead he could see the Isle of Mull in Craignure, while further ahead and off to starboard he could see the Lord of the Isles making her way up the Firth of Lorn from the southern end of Kerrera.

I was soon back at the lighthouse with a view out over the Firth and could also see Lord of the Isles heading up towards the Isle of Arran, which was by this point making her turn off Lismore. I was in an unusual position of being able to see 3 large ferries in the Firth of Lorn. The Isle of Mull had set off back from Craignure, the Lord of the Isles was taking her place on Mull, and the Isle of Arran was getting ever closer to Oban. As she turned off Lismore the mist suddenly cleared as a strong wind developed - not just a strong wind but a cold one as well.

Isle of Arran, Lord of the Isles and Isle of Mull off Oban
Isle of Arran crossing the Firth of Lorn

Communication ceased with Alan as his ferry approached. I told him where I would be, so he could give me a wave as the ferry passed by. As the Isle of Arran approached I could make him out - predictably standing in front of the bridge, camera in hand and unfortunately aimed at yours truly!

The ferry swept round and into Oban bay as I snapped away - and of course Alan did likewise. She crossed to the linkspan as the wind strengthened and the inevitable rain started. This wasn't too much of a problem as my camera spends most of its time wrapped in a polythene sandwich bag to keep it dry and my SoC jacket has a hood!

Al on the Isle of Arran

After the Tiree ferry unloaded her passengers, the Isle of Mull once again approached the mainland port with her last sailing of the day. As she too came into Oban harbour and swung round the Corran Ledge marker buoy I continued snapping away - although the majority of the photos by this point were blurry because of the strong winds and poor light conditions which were now becoming more of a problem.

I had arranged previously to meet up with Alan at the lighthouse to hand over some photos of his that I had scanned, and soon after unloading, he was dropped off while the car was turned round a little way down the road. Isle of Arran was meanwhile loading for Colonsay and duly made off down the Sound of Kerrera as the Mull ferry spun on the spot and backed into the linkspan berth.

Isles of Mull and Arran in Oban

The light conditions were now far too poor to get anything like decent pictures, so I said farewell to Alan and headed off to the B&B a few minutes away from Oban. To say I was tired by 6.00pm today is an understatement. Sleep will be most welcome this evening...