Glasgow Bridges 27th November

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Hugh, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex

It was a cold morning as we made our way to the Counting House for a roll and coffee before our walk. There were pockets of Club Brugge supporters in the town awaiting their encounter with Celtic in the evening (1-1 was the final score), but they were behaving themselves.

The decision was to walk towards the SEC and Transport Museum giving ourselves enough time to get back and have lunch before a mid-afternoon return home, and so we set off down through St Enoch Square and to the river. The walking conditions were excellent, and we were well wrapped up, but as we made our way in the sunshine hats and gloves were being taken off. It was a pity that there was so much graffiti on the structures along the walkway, signs of our times, we suppose. Anyway, we reached the museum at about half past eleven and some decided to go in and take a look whilst others took advantage of the toilets.

The main point of interest was not in the museum but outside it i.e. the new footbridge bridge which can swing open, which connects the museum side of the river to Govan. On enquiring, one of the workers was able to say that the bridge was about to open and would be open for about forty minutes, so we decided to stay on the north side and watch it open, which it did very quietly and allowed a small naval-type vessel to pass. At this point it was noticed that Alan and Graham were missing. The rest assumed that they were still inside the museum but when contacted it was revealed that they had come out of the building and, not realising they were on their own, had continued west along the path rather than come and join us at the bridge. Once they knew where we were, they soon rejoined the company for the return to the city centre.

The sun was beginning to be hidden by clouds, so the hats and gloves were put back on, and rather than criss-cross the bridges we headed straight to the Crystal Palace (Wetherspoon’s) for lunch and FRT. Downstairs was mobbed, but there was plenty of room upstairs and we enjoyed our hour and a half’s stay.

The walk itself was nearly six and a half miles, and we were out for about two and a half hours which included the extended stop at the museum. A satisfying day out!