River Clyde 4/10/13

A quick stop at East India harbour on my way home from Gareloch paid dividends today.

Two new Western Ferries vessels arrived on the Clyde this morning and ended up at James Watt Dock prior to going into service on the busy Hunter's Quay to McInroy's Point crossing.

Some pictures of Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay passing East India Harbour and entering James Watt Dock.

With the arrivals for Joint Warrior the MOD police launch Lewis was kept busy.

The Vine Trust's hospital ship Jubilee Hope was assisted with a move from the entrance of the drydock to Great Harbour by Clyde Marine tug Beaver Bay.

Today has probably been a busier than average day on the river with a few welcome surprises to make up for the low level of Joint Warroir vessels.

Joint Warrior arrivals

The cruise ships are over and we are now on to the grey boats.

This weekend sees the start of Operation Joint Warrior, a twice yearly exercise off the west coast of Scotland.

This autumn's exercise seems to be a lot smaller scale than previous ones.

Today we had 2  arrivals to Faslane naval base with 1 vessel departing.

HMS Northumberland headed for King George V dock in Glasgow instead, so we had a quick dash to Braehead to catch her as she was escorted upriver by tugs Battler & Bruiser.

KNM Utvaer escorted by a MOD police launch

S303 - KNM Utvaer

KNM Utvaer's crew on top of her coning tower

KNM Utvaer heading for Faslane base

KNM Utvaer and HMS Severn, passing each other in Gareloch

P282 - HMS Severn departing Gareloch through Rhu narrows

HMS Severn

HMS Severn passing Roseneath

French frigate, La Motte-Picquet

Crew lined up on the deck of La Motte-Picquet

The mist lifting for La Motte-Picquet

HMS Northumberland heading for Glasgow

Battler and Bruiser escorting HMS Northumberland

HMS Northumberland passing BAE's Scotstoun yard

Bruiser prepares to take a line from the warship HMS Northumberland

HMS Northumberland approaching King George V dock in Glasgow

The Viking Invasion of Rothesay, 2013 style

As part of Rothesay Castle re-enactment day, we were treated to a role play of the Vikings invading Rothesay.

The landing was slightly scaled down and I'm afraid it might not be completely historically accurate.

Never the less, this was how the story unfolded on a sunny September afternoon on Rothesay beach.

A lone Viking longship approaches the town of Rothesay on the island of Bute. Either he has raced ahead of the rest of the fleet or he thinks one ship load of warriors is enough to beat the Scots.

A solitary Viking jumps out of the boat onto the beach and challenges the awaiting army to a battle. I reckon he has been watching too many episodes of Rab C Nesbit and thinks he can take on the world single handed.

This is going to be a dawdle he says to himself when he notices that Scots army are all under the age of ten. He squares up ready to wipe out the foe.

The might Scots soon have him seriously wounded. His colleagues back on the longboat obviously don't realise the seriousness of his situation.

The foolhardy Viking makes it back to the boat and tells his fiends to make a hasty retreat back to their own country.

Carnival Legend

The cruise season draws to a close today at Greenock with a second visit from Carnival Legend on a misty autumn morning.

We have had small liners and the very biggest of liners this year, in every type of weather ranging from cold and wet to beautiful sunshine, but I'm sure every passenger has enjoyed their visit and been made to feel welcome by the welcoming party at the ocean terminal.

I'm already looking forward to next years visits and the hope of seeing some more new visitors.

'The Great Marquess' 61994 - Steam tour

With hopes of an improvement in the weather today, we headed up the West Highland Line to see steam loco 61994 "The Great Marquess" hauling a tour up the line to Fort William.

We followed her up from Garelochhead to Tyndrum, via Arrochar and Crianlarich.

Having left Arrocaher on time, we headed up to Crianlarich, only to learn an hour later that she had been delayed further down the line.

Well, most of that hour was spent standing in the rain which had decided to spoil our day.

61994 pulls out of Garelochhead hauling the West Highlander tour

Steam loco 61994 passing Arrochar

Crianlarich station is a popular place for steam lovers

Steam loco 61994 "The Great Marquess" sitting at Crianlarich

61994 climbing out of Tyndrum

61994 on the West Highland Line heading for Fort William

Vision of the Seas

Contrary to popular belief, it is not always sunny in Greenock.

Vision of the Seas paid her second visit of the year on a miserable, dreich autumn day.

Visibility was pery poor as she sailed out this evening, surely in search of better weather elsewhere.