Flyboarding

Flyboarding was a word and a sport that I had not heard of until this afternoon.

It's a bit like a skateboard without wheels. A strong jet of water is fed from a boat or jet-ski through an umbilical and comes out of two nozzles on the bottom of the board.

It looks to be immense fun and experienced flyboarders can perform dives and somersaults in mid air.

Perhaps the best way to describe it is to look at the pictures of the two boys demonstrating their manoeuvres below.

Inverkip Power Station

The scene is a tranquil summer's evening overlooking the Firth of Clyde and the remaining buildings of the little used Inverkip power station.

There was a large gathering of small boats around the bay, all waiting and watching as if something was about to happen.

The chimney had not seen much smoke in its 30 plus years as Scotland's tallest free standing structure.

All was about to change, as at exactly 10pm a series of explosive charges were about to bring the massive tower to the ground.

The deadly charge that was about to ignite the explosives can be seen streaking towards the chimney.

The top section of the chimney starts its downward journey as a second explosion signals the end of the lower section

Clouds of smoke and dust blow up through the flues of the chimney as she continues to the ground

The bottom section falls away to the left as the top section drops vertically

All that can be seen is the bottom section about to crash to the ground

A column of smoke and dust pays homage to the now fallen chimney.

The view over the river is now obscured by a massive dust cloud engulfing the valley.

Inverclyde

A rare afternoon of sunshine, especially in February, isn't a regular occurence here.

Making the most of it, I decided to stop off at a few locations after watching the demolition at Inverkip power station.

Kip village with the Argyllshire hills in the background

Girl with a suitcase, statue at Gourock pierhead

Old Greenock Academy building, now the set for TV series Waterloo Road

Inverkip Power Station - boilerhouse demolition

Another section of the power station was demolished this afternoon.

At 3pm the siren alerted everyone to the explosion which was about to bring the 57 metere high steel structure to the ground in a matter of seconds.

All that remains of the power station are the control room and the chimney which are due to be demolished shortly.

A last look at the boilerhouse standing upright

The explosions kick up dust around the uprights of the boilerhouse

Going...

...going...

...gone - in a massive cloud of dust

All that remains is a massive pile of twisted metal