Happened to be visiting family in Tighnabruaich for the weekend when PS Waverley – the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer – was due to stop for a while during its Clyde cruise, to let day cruise passengers have some time ashore.
The local pier association had arranged for 200 ‘short cruise’ tickets to be sold to support the pier, without which Waverley wouldn’t have a place to stop.
Waverley was launched 75 years ago – the year I was born – and as children we’d spend summer holidays in Dunoon with an aunt and uncle.
Two options to get to Dunoon back then: either train to Gourock to join the car ferry; or “boat a’ the wey” from Glasgow and, for us, that often meant either the Waverly or sister ship Jeanie Deans.
So this opportunity to go back to old times (I think I was eleven years old when I last sailed on the Waverley) wasn’t to be missed – and it didn’t disappoint.
A couple of photos are attached – but I also have short videos from e.g. the engine room, if someone can tell me how to upload them?
