Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Hugh, Johnny, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert
This was a new walk for the Ooters, a walk well-researched by Kenny with the promise of no hills, easily accessed public toilets, and wonderful views (weather permitting).
Well, the weather did permit as we were promised a very warm
day, although when we met at the car park at Lunderston Bay a haar spread
across the water and there was a wee breeze, enough for some of us to put on a
fleece, but not, as it turned out, for long. The walk was to be on paths and
pavements, and so it proved to be, with our first brief stopping point at the
Cloch lighthouse. Kenny took out his camera to take a photo of us but had
forgot to put as spool in it, well memory card actually, but you get the drift,
so his phone became the alternative. With the haar gradually lifting, we passed
the ferry terminal at McInroy’s Point before stopping for coffee at a series of
benches by the waterfront with views of Dunoon, Kilcreggan and the hills
beyond. Although the views across the water were the feature of the day, many a
comment was made about the quality of the bungalows and villas along this
stretch of road, signs of the wealth of previous years.
 |
| Haar today, gone tomorrow. Or was it a cloud inversion? |
 |
| The view from the coffee stop |
 |
| The manager gets his swim in before the pool opens at twelve |
Reluctantly, we moved on, taking a peek at the outdoor swimming
pool, before walking seemlessly into Greenock and stopping at the benches
adjacent to Battery Park for lunch. Sitting there in the warm sunshine with
the views down the Clyde was glorious, and it was a thought to have to move on.
Helensburgh was clearly visible across the water, and we
could remember the day we did the Helensburgh to Balloch walk (22 04 2015).
Also visible was the wreck of the upturned sugar boat, the history of which was
posted on the Greenock Cut blog of 28 08 2015 but is repeated here for
convenience.
It is the wreck of the MV Captayannis which broke free from
its anchor during a storm on the evening of 27 January 1974 whilst it was
waiting to deliver its cargo of sugar to the James Watt Dock in Greenock. She
collided with the BP tanker, British Light, which suffered no damage but her
anchor chains holed the sugar boat allowing water to pour in. Her captain
beached her on the sandbank, where the crew were taken off by two small craft,
but the vessel eventually rolled over and has lain there ever since. She has
never been removed as confusion surrounds the identity of her owners and
insurers and no-one accepts responsibility. Most, if not all, of her valuable
metals and fittings have been removed by looters. Who said Scotland lacked
enterprise?
A much bigger ship came into view as we approached Ocean
Terminal in the shape of the cruise ship MSC Virtuosa. A massive high-rise
development on water, we wondered how it stayed upright in rough water. We were
in the centre of Greenock by now and it was time for Paul to take his leave of
us and make his way back to his car (by bus) as he had to be in Edinburgh later
that afternoon. The rest found FRT in the James Watt (Wetherspoon’s) where, as
always, we were amazed at the low prices.
By the time we left, the temperature had soared and we were
extremely glad we were getting the bus back to the cars, which we reached at about
quarter past three. The walk itself had taken just under three and a half hours
for a tad over eight miles.
This had been a most enjoyable ‘different’ day out for us and
one we thanked Kenny for organising, including the weather. In fact, the cooler
morning temperature as a result of the haar, was a godsend as this turned out
to be the hottest September day in Scotland (in the Borders) for over a hundred
years.
 |
| Lunch stop. We could have sat there all day. |
 |
| Built in France. Remember when we could build these things? |
