Homeward bound

A busy day. I dropped my washing in the launderette, pushed the Bickerton to Greenock, where the cycle shop were able to replace the crank. I the stopped for breakfast. I returned to Calviere II and used the hoover & had a good tidy & polish.
After a peanut butter sandwich, I returned to the launderette and collected the washing.
After The Archers, I took the train into town. A wetherspoons lamb curry washed down by a pint of Tenents in The Counting House, an old banking hall.
My first coach leaves at 23:00 for Birmingham.

Goodbye John

John and I caught an early train into Glasgow Central, and then had a substantial Whetherspoon's Eggs Benidict to keep us going. I sent John off with a Snickers bar and a bottle of Iron Bru for the journey.
John has been a good crew member, more in tune with my pace. ie, snooze in the afternoon, listen to The Archers in the evening. None of this rushing to catch the first bus like one other crew member. I won't mention her name!
I called in at the Tourist information and asked about visiting one of the cranes which I had read was open to the public. They didn't have any leaflets but they said if I went to Clydebank I couldn't miss it. I took the bus and, sure enough, once at Clydebank the skyline is dominated by the Titan Crane.
It should have been closed! It only opens Friday to Monday, but because Neil Oliver was there filming an episode of Coast, the staff were able to give me a personal tour of the magnificent structure.
In her hay day she was surrounded by dozens of smaller cranes, busy workshops, and bustling docks. All has gone. The sheds have been demolished, the docks have been filled in, and some short little stumps are left by the foundations of the cranes. The Titan stands in total isolation in an industrial desert.
The lift whisked us to the top in seconds. The guide said that When she was working, the crane driver used to arrive half an hour before the rest of the shift to allow himself time to climb the ladders to his cab, carrying his flask and bucket.
The view was wonderful and the engineering impressive, but you can only wonder at past glory. One shipyard is left on the Clyde, with empty order books and an uncertain future. There used to be forty two.
I bussed it back into town, and rejoined the open top bus tour we had taken yesterday, the ticket being valid for two days. Today I had the Neil Oliver commentary.
I jumped off in Sauchiehall Street and went to the Willows Tearooms, famous for its Charles Rennie Mackintosh interior. I had the haggis!
Back to Calviere II for The Archers, after which I thought I'd go out on the Bickerton and perhaps get a late bite to eat and a glass of the local brew. I didn't get far when the pedal dropped off. I have stripped the thread and will have to see if I can get it repaired tomorrow.

Tuesday in Glasgow - guest blogger

Today being my last day as crew member on Calviere Two, as a special treat I was allowed ashore for a visit to Glasgow.
We took a train into Glasgow and then an open top circular bus tour of the city, the weather was glorious. The bus took us past a statue of a mounted Duke of Wellington, the courier thought it was funny that the city authorities make no effort to remove the traffic cone from his head - I was not impressed, very disrespectful.
As we entered George Square we were greeted by the sounds of a pipe band. Pipers from around the world had descended on Glasgow for the Annual International Piping Festival - I was impressed.
Back to the boat in time for 'The Archers' and a simple tea of bread & cheese.
I am returning home to Goring-by-Sea in the morning with fond memories having shared some fantastic sailing with Peter over the last ten days. Thank you Peter for your company and sharing Calviere Two with me. Best wishes for on your oddesey.
John D.

Monday, Holy Loch - James Watt Dock

Very heavy rain and no wind. We sat in the marina cafe, looking out of the window at the rain, whilst eating breakfast. John had the Scottish pancakes with ice cream & syrup. I went for the healthy option, egg, bacon, sausage patty, baked beans and toast.
We filled up with diesel before leaving the marina, and headed down Holy Loch in the murk, again dodging the ferries.
Once across the Clyde, the main shipping channel is surprisingly narrow as the central area is shallow with drying banks at low water. We passed a cruise ship, Ocean Princess, moored in Greenock, as we lined up to approach James Watt Dock.
Having moored up securely we went off to explore Greenock, only to be caught by yet another shower. What we did see didn't look to attractive. They do have an impressive crane which dominates the skyline over the dock area.

Sunday 5th August, Inverkip - Holy Loch

We had breakfast in the marina cafe, and headed across the Clyde, dodging one enormous tanker with tugs & numerous ferries nipping back & forth.
No wind, dead flat water with barely a ripple. We moored on the long visitors pontoon at Holy Loch Marina.
I assembled the Bickerton and cycled the couple of miles into Dunoon, whilst John walked.
During our journey Ben Ainslie won his fifth Olympic medal.
We stopped for coffee in The Yachtsman's Cafe and watched the PS Waverley load up with passengers for evening cruise before heading back to the marina. This time John took the bus.

Saturday at rest in Inverkip

We took a very late breakfast / early lunch in a coffee bar in Inverkip and then had a leisurely wander around the town. Not really much there. A station, a chemist / post office, which was closed, a Sainsburys local and the Inverkip Hotel, where we booked in for an evening meal.
We returned to the boat where I scrubbed and polished, in the warm sunshine, whilst the crew slept below.
Later in the afternoon, we had a thunderstorm, with lots of thunder rolling around the hills which surround us, and heavy rain.
We dodged the rain and made our way to the hotel. The starter, black pudding with poached egg and a hollandaise sauce was excellent, followed by the steak & ale pie for me and John had
the Hake and Thai curry. Both enjoyed greatly. John found some room for the apple crumble.
We enquired of the young waitress which were the local whiskies on the hotel whisky menu and had one from the Isle of Arran and one from the Auchentoshan distillery. Needless to say we enjoyed them both, and two boys giggled their way back to Calviere II.

3rd August, Millport - Inverkip

After John had fried up our breakfast, we took the inflatable dinghy across to the Millport jetty. John hired a bicycle and set off round the island. I enquired in the cycle shop about a new tyre for the Bickerton, it is an unusual size. They had one in stock and were willing to fit it. I returned to the boat and collected the bike. The new tyre was very difficult to fit, but the young lad managed it.
John completed his lap, and did a short lap of honor. After returning the bike, he stood on the jetty & whistled, and I collected him.
We set off in a dead calm, and motored all the way to Inverkip. I didn't even bother pulling up the main sail.

Ardrossan to Millport

The weather was a complete contrast to yesterday. Today we had a gentle SW breeze and enough sunshine to warrant the wearing of shorts. We set off intending to head for the town of Largs with a short lunch stop at Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. We only had seven miles to go, so we weren't in any hurry. We sailed for the first hour, and covered about three nautical miles when the wind dropped.
We motored into Millport Bay and picked up one of the visitors buoy. John opened the bottle of red wine, French bread, cheese, olives and pâté for lunch.
We liked the look of Millport so I blew up the inflatable dinghy and we went ashore. We decided to stay the night on the mooring and enjoyed an indian meal in a quayside restaurant where I could look out of the window to check on Calviere II.

Guest Blogger John D in Ardrossan

After the glorious sunny day yesterday Peter's decision to seek refuge in the the safe confines of Ardrossen Marina where vindicated. It was a stormy  night, and today it settled down a bit. As can be seen by the photo taken on the prom at Saltcoats.

Saltcoats Sea Front

I have been missing my bicycle recently so I decided to go off for a cycle ride. (leaving Peter with the domestic duties).
All was going fine, I used the cycle route through Saltcoats heading towards Irvine, then I had a puncture (calamity of calamities). See photo.

Sad Bike

I carried on, on foot to the next town and caught the train back to Ardrossen Harbour. There are numerous cycle paths and I certainly intend to return here with a proper bike.
Reunited with Captain Fisher we settled down to an evening an meal of Guiness, Crackers and Camembert. Another great day Nite nite.