Waverley, Glasgow to Oban

Summer has come to Scotland and, with the nice weather, the paddle steamer Waverley began her 2012 cruise season yesterday with a cruise from Glasgow, via Greenock, Campbeltown and Colonsay to Oban. I persuaded my old mate from school and, later on, from art college, Blair Thomson, to come along - he'd never been on the Waverley before and so really needed to experience the vintage vessel's great charms for himself. It proved to be an absolutely super day. The night before, I stayed with Blair and Mikee, who is Japanese and so the dinner she/they prepared enabled me to re-live some of the delights of my trip to Japan back in April:

Next morning, Blair and I got up early and headed to Pacific Quay, where Waverley was raising steam for her 7 am departure:

The queue of passengers was satisfactorily lengthy:

Waverley's Rankin triple-expansion steam engine - polished to perfection:

Breakfast in the Dining Saloon as we steamed down the Clyde. Bliss was it to be alive:

Approaching Dumbarton:

Blair photographing the engine:

Raising a brand new pennant for the 2012 season:

Ahead, in the distance, Caribbean Princess dominates Greenock: 

It's not only Glasgow greasy spoon cafs that  have delightfully idionsyncratic lettering - this tanker had too:

The view astern:

A new ferry being born in Ferguson's Shipyard, Port Glasgow:

 Custom House Quay, Greenock, where we picked up some more passengers:

 

Caribbean Princess:

Ali Cat heads from Dunoon to Gourock:

A quick visit to the shop, where several quality books are for sale:

Argyle and Bute pass on their way between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay:

The Arran hills ahead:

On the horizon, Caledonian Isles approaches Brodick Pier:

Sailing down to Campbeltown:

More passengers were waiting to board at Campbeltown Pier:

Luncheon:

The view from the Dining Saloon window:

Rounding the Mull of Kintyre:

Warm air and limpid water - not exactly usual off Kintyre:

Blair sketching Waverley's engine:

Approaching Jura:

Hebridean Isles, bound from Port Askaig on Islay to Kennacraig:

Islay ferry Finlaggan at Port Askaig pier:

Approaching Colonsay:

Waverley at Colonsay Pier:

The Jeanie Deans Lounge:

The Observation Saloon:

The Dining Saloon at dinner time:

Lord of the Isles passing on her way from Oban to Colonsay:

(Her Captain never responded to Waverley's whistle - oh dear!)

Onward towards Oban in lovely evening sunlight:

Isle of Mull in Oban:

Waverley's skipper with two of the more picturesque crew members, fortunately neither Moldovan, so far as could be ascertained:

Disembarking at Oban North Pier:

The end of a superb day.