Glasgow 3rd December

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

The day hadn’t started well, not just because of the rain, but major delays on the M77, caused by an accident, meant that the proposed 10am starting time for the guided tour wasn’t going to happen. Fortunately, our guide for today, Kevin Scott (Walking Glasgow), was also delayed, so we were able to have a coffee in the Counting House after all.

It was about quarter past when all were assembled, and the rain had gone off, that we got under way and as it was a tour of ‘Secret Glasgow’ we can’t disclose too much about it other than starting off in George Square we headed down to the Clyde, then along to Glasgow Green, up the Saltmarket and High Street, through Strathclyde University, and back down to George Square. Kevin was very knowledgeable and offered us copious amounts of facts along the full length of the walk as well as entertaining us with some of his stories.

We thanked him for his efforts, and he was given a contribution to RNLI funds as a token of our appreciation. We had covered about four and a half miles in approximately two and three-quarter hours in fine weather and headed to the Crystal Palace for lunch and FRT.

As we were about to leave at quarter past three Paul was able to tell us that those travelling by train to Irvine, Troon, Prestwick and Ayr were about to be disappointed as the trains were ‘aff’ due to issues on the line. This affected a fair number of us today and led to various alternatives being used, with some being lucky and others being unlucky in terms of getting home reasonably on time e.g. the Irvine boys travelling by bus getting home at six o’clock and some of the Prestwick/Ayr guys, who had managed to get on a train at half-past four, were stuck on the line for an age, before finally getting to Ayr at half-six.

We had endured the worst of public transport today and hopefully have used up all our bad luck for a while to come. Nevertheless, the time in Glasgow itself was very sociable, and we look forward to having another day of culture of some description in the coming year.