Summer Outing: Saturday 6th August 2005
A comprehensive report of the event by our honorary associate member (again!)
On Saturday 6th August 2005 a group of WASA members and selected guests assembled at the Glasgow Science Centre for the 2nd annual WASA summer outing. Our group’s destination was not the Science Centre itself but the world-famous paddle steamer
Waverley. As in 2004, we were taking a cruise doon the watter.
This year we joined our vessel at the start of her cruise, which meant no need for a train journey to Helensburgh
and, unfortunately, no opportunity to view the legendary drawer of cheese (see report of last year’s outing for details). And so it was that our intrepid band of aquaculturists, veterinary surgeons,
legal eagles and others all climbed aboard the Waverley at around quarter to ten, anticipating about 10 hours of cruising down the Firth of Clyde.
I believe there is a maritime tradition that advises against consumption of alcohol before the sun is
over the yard-arm (whatever that might be) – this was blatantly disregarded by one of our number, a member of the legal profession who was quite literally called to the bar immediately upon getting aboard. So with beers in hand (it was definitely too early for whisky) we made our way up onto the top deck.
The weather during the first part of our voyage could best be described as bracing, or
pure Baltic, man to use the Glaswegian vernacular. The sun was hidden behind grey clouds and the wind was doing its best to keep us sober by blowing the beer from our pints and knocking over any that its owner was foolish enough to leave unsupported. This somewhat chilly weather called for something to warm the cockles, and your correspondent needed no excuse to pour out a Bloody Mary for himself and the
WASA president from the bottle prepared earlier. Some of our party seemed to take the weather as an excuse for hiding below decks as several of them were notable by their absence (no names mentioned).
click on thumbnails to enlarge images
Our first port of call - after passing through Glasgow, past Clydebank and under the Erskine
Bridge [resplendent with the echoes of screams of "WASA!", thanks to
some vocal members of our group, Ed] - was Greenock, after which we crossed the Clyde to Helensburgh. By this point the weather had improved, as can be seen from the photographs, and further applications of sun-block became necessary. Fortunately, Dick was on hand to explain that the prevailing weather system would give better visibility than had the weather been sunnier. Fascinating!
As the afternoon wore on and the alcohol continued to flow the atmosphere on the upper deck became most convivial as the Waverley bore us on to our next two ports of call – the first being Dunoon and the second
Rothesay, capital of the Isle of Bute. From Rothesay, we steamed into the Kyles of Bute, narrow channels between the northern tip of the island and the mainland. By this time the weather was now positively warm and our merry band was keenly anticipating an opportunity to disembark and stretch and our legs (and of course sample some fine malts) in the village of Tighnabruaich. A short walk brought us to the local hotel and its well-stocked gantry of malts – unfortunately not being an appreciator of whisky I am unable to give much detail of the range stocked, see a WASA committee member for a detailed report (including
tasting
notes). The whisky aficionados were also well provided for by Dick who produced large quantities of malt from a thermos flask, including some from
the Isle of Arran (the closest distillery to Tighnabruaich).
After several rounds and an attempt by the WASA president to make a speech
(which was [unkindly, Ed] heckled by members of our party as well as a group of rather rowdy ladies at an adjacent
table), it was soon time to return to the Waverley. Some of our party (myself included, dear
reader) tarried somewhat on the way back and were among the last to board. Anton
reports, 'Having run along the quayside with half the group, the remainder
ambling, Charlie said to the ticket collectors for the return journey,
"Hold this vessel for the rest of my men - I'm the president of WASA you
know!" (or words to that effect).'
The return journey was spent on the lower deck at the stern (that is the blunt end for those of you with little or no nautical knowledge), basking in the strong afternoon sun and consuming more alcohol. Soon after departure we were joined by (I think) the same group of ladies that had heckled President McGurk at the pub and we spent much of the journey talking to them.
Unfortunately that is about all I can remember of the return journey apart from a brief foray into the bar and
dance floor and a brief liaison with a young lady called Sharon. All too soon we were back at the Science Centre and disembarking before going our separate ways.
I think everyone that went on this trip thoroughly enjoyed themselves and all are eagerly awaiting the next one. Perhaps if the numbers continue to increase at the rate they have done from last year to this then before long
WASA will be able to charter the whole vessel and specify their own itinerary!
Steven R Baker Esq., BVMS, MRCVS
photographs courtesy of Steve, Anton, Dick & the two Johns
