16 January Erskine Bridge to Clydebank

Andy, Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert & Ronnie

In the seven years of our existence we have been on some high places but never has a feeling of vertigo filled your scribe more than standing on the middle of the Erskine Bridge and looking down at the icy grey waters of the Clyde some hundred and twenty five feet below.

Today’s walk was to be a short one for another of our social events was in the offing for the evening, this time to celebrate the sixty-fifth birthday of Ian. The route chose was a new one for all and a short one; we would walk across the Erskine Bridge then along the Forth & Clyde Canal to Clydebank and back. We, well most of us, parked in the garden centre car park on the south side of the span but for reasons known only to them, Jimmy, Davie and Peter chose to park on the north side. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology (mobile phones!) we knew exactly where they were and barely had we started to cross the bridge when we met them coming in the opposite direction. As one body then, we started over the bridge.

 The day was heavily overcast and a snell northerly blew across the height of the centre span of the bridge, a northerly that kept the air fairly clear and we had a decent view both upriver into the city and downriver to Dumbarton Rock and the Tail o’ the Bank. All was well until we looked directly down into the cold grey waters of the Clyde and a feeling of vertigo swept over your scribbler. Still, we stood on the centre of the bridge while Rex manoeuvred his camera on the crash barrier to take a group picture. Then, as the snell breeze cut into us we crossed the river to find the shelter of the canal banks.

The walk along the canal was just that; a walk with no distinct points of interest, just some waterfowl which the birders identified as tufted duck floating on the water. We shared the path with fellow walkers and cyclists, exchanging greetings with all who passed. But this was all to take our attention on what was not a particularly long walk and we soon found ourselves in Clydebank at what we took to be the main shopping complex. Too early for lunch, we decided to split up and do our own thing for half an hour or so. Some milled around the shopping mall, some went looking for the outdoor shop, Go Outdoors, and some walked further along the canal. Then we all came together at Mcmonagles Fish Restaurant for a fish supper. We can highly recommend this eatery for the food is fresh and hot and tasty, and the service is excellent. We will be back!

Lunch finished, we retraced the steps along the canal bank with the same greetings exchanges and the same waterfowl on the canal. Bidding adieu to Jimmy, Peter and Davie for we passed Jimmy’s parked car near the side of the canal, we re-crossed the river to our own parked vehicles and made our way home to beautify ourselves for the evening ahead.