Day 1494 reflections on my PS Waverley trip yesterday

Oh. My. Word.

I’m writing this on Monday night on the bus on the way back to Glasgow. I cannot begin to explain the true extent of the beauty I have seen today. We got the West Coast of Scotland as its absolute best.

“I’m sailing up the west coast, through villages and towns” to quote Dignity by Deacon Blue!

More accurately, we sailed up the west coast taking in several beautiful islands.

We started off on The Clyde at the Glasgow Science Centre and sailed down the Clyde, under the Erskine Bridge, past Greenock and Port Glasgow and down to our first stop in Largs. We picked a good couple of hundred people up in Largs.

My friend Helen sent me the Waverley’s actual trip for the day. I was so chuffed.

We then headed over to Great Cumbrae and sailed north of Little Cumbrae and over to skirt the north coast of Arran…. With Bute in view most of the way.

We then headed across around the Mull of Kintyre and across to Islay and up the Sound of Islay with Jura visible on the right hand side. We sailed on to Colonsay and then back across towards the mainland via the Correyvreckan Whirlpool. Then down through the Slate Isles, past Easdale, Seil Island and Luing… before head into the sound of Kerrera, past Kerrera and into my favourite place on the world… Oban. In the scorching hot sunshine.

What is not to love.

I also met two other solo travellers, randomly both called Chris. One male, one female. We kept an eye out for each other’s bags while we were off away around the boat. I love that kind of connection with someone. We’ll not stay in touch and never see each other again but we shared the day.

I am shattered but I am so grateful that I had the chance to see all of this. I’m gutted I’m not carrying on further north in the Waverley but, given how much I was “bouncing” on dry land… it’s maybe just as well I’m on the bus home. 😂

So I’ll pick up where we left off… we were just about to enter the Correyvreckan Whirlpool.

Now, I’m not going to lie… this is a bucket list thing of mine and I had NO idea that we actually went through it on this cruise. Also, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was a bit like sailing through a bubbling cauldron… actually when has anyone EVER done that?!?

These photos WILL NOT do it justice.

If you have ever drive past the Falls of Lora in Connel, near Oban, the effect is very similar.

As the Waverley went into the Whirlpool she was doing 15 knots, by the time she came out she was up to 2/knots just with the force of the whirlpool…. About 10 minutes later, she was down to 11 knots as fighting against a flowing tide.

It’s now Tuesday afternoon and I’ve had the laziest day in the sun. It’s 4.30 already and all I’ve got to show for it is a varnished bench!!

I am quite pleased with it.

So back to yesterday. Leaving the Gulf of Correyvreckan was spectacular.

It was now an evening sunset cruise. After such a spectacular day.

The film crew that were on board were sailing alongside getting lots of shorts for the David Hayman documentary about the PS Waverley.

We are currently here.

The Slate Islands were beautiful. I was torn between watching out to the sun and capturing the green island of Luing and the coast south of Oban.

This is just at Seil island.

I almost missed it but I caught the bridge over the Atlantic!

The Oban lifeboat came out to see us!

The PS Waverley is a celebrity wherever she sails. It’s lovely to be a part of that. Even leaving Glasgow yesterday, folk were waving out of their Clydeside flats.

I’m back out the porthole in the ladies toilets again as we head down the Sound of Kerrera into Oban!

My favourite place on the west coast, Oban.

McCaig’s Tower up on the hill.

The low sun is beautiful!

Docked for the evening!

Taken from the bow of the Waverley.

I’m already off and so sad that the day is over. It was just so perfect.

We then had to jump straight on the bus to Glasgow Science Centre. I literally spend 10 minutes in Oban!

What a stunning night.

Even the bus trip down was stunning, I kept taking photos out the window.

All of these taken from a moving coach… this is the start of Loch Awe.

St Conan’s Kirk on the banks of Loch Awe.

Reflections of the railway bridge at Kilchurn Castle.

The moon is huge….

It’s finally almost dark so I try to sleep but nothing comes.

I got home around midnight after a few wrong turns in Glasgow. My mind wasn’t as fresh as it should have been.

What a truly wonderful day that will stay with me forever. There’ll be videos and more photos to come, I’m sure!

I’m too tired to proof read this tonight so fingered crossed it’s ok 👌

Stay safe everyone 🚢♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿