Glasgow and the Trossachs

We have been based in the James Watt Marina since last Monday 7th, so over a week now. During this time we have explored Glasgow and the surrounding area and been impressed by both. 


The Science Centre
We have caught the bus into Glasgow twice and I was very impressed with the city. It is a modern vibrant city with the River Clyde at its heart. There is an old university and13th century cathedral and necropolis, but the dock areas outside of the main city area have been rejuvenated and are very vibrant areas now. Here you can find the site of the Glasgow Science Centre, a striking titanium building, the IMAX theatre and the tower which moves with the wind.



Detail from the Science Centre
The moving tower
 
The other impressive architecture in the city is the dramatic zinc panelled Waterside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid the world renowned female architect and the “Armadillo” and SSE Hydro concert arena, both designed by Sir Norman Foster. 
Waterside Transport Museum Glasgow designed by Zaha Hadid

 
The Crown Plaza Hotel and the "Armadillo" concert venue across the Clyde.


The Waterside Museum and Tall Ship
So far we have only visited the Waterside Museum which is a fascinating trip down memory lane. There are of course many local pubs to sample and the local Tennants beer. I was disappointed that the Willow Tea Rooms, famous for being designed by Rennie Mackintosh was closed for refurbishment and the Glasgow School of Art is covered in scaffolding because of renovation following the fire a few year’s ago. Sauchiehall Street is the famous shopping street and home to many lovely regency crescents and murder stories. The word Sauchiehall (pronounced sockiehall) is old Scottish for Willow Meadow, so at one time the street was lined with willow trees.

 There is also the Kelvingrove Park, Art Gallery and bowls, croquet and tennis courts left over from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. 

The bus from Greenock to Glasgow takes you into the massive Braehead Shopping Centre which is home to the UK’s largest Krispy Kreme Store. I had to visit it and for Krispy Kreme lovers it was an experience to see the doughnuts being made. You can even take a fast rib trip from the centre of Glasgow along the River Clyde just to visit the Krispy Kreme shop! 
Krispy Kreme's being made in Glasgow.

 

The Falkirk Wheel
 
At the weekend Josh's cousin Sue and her husband Colin kindly picked us up and had us to stay so we were treated to a tour around the Trossachs. This took in the Falkirk Wheel (which lifts canal boats up and down in “buckets” rather like a lift and is the only one in the World), the Kelpies ( a sculpture of two mythical horses), Loch Katrine (the setting on Walter Scott’s the Lady of the Lake), Loch Long and of course Loch Lomand.

 

We had a delightful lunch in a rather strange pub called the Drovers Inn, where all of the staff wore kilts. It was full of stuffed animals including a full size bear and a haggis, with two legs shorter on one side than the other side so that it could run around the hillside. To catch a haggis you hide behind a rock and shout “boo” as it runs towards you, it then turns round and runs in the other direction but because it’s legs are shorter on that side it falls over! You can then catch it and cook your haggis.

 Today, 16th August, we are in Largs Marina again, weather bound by gale force winds (we have recorded 35 knots of wind while sitting in the marina) and rain. We have Mick and Linda with us and the plan was to sail to Belfast but due to bad weather, which is forecast to last some time, we have today abandoned our plan to sail to Belfast. Watch this space to see what happens next. This must go down in the record books as the worst summer weather ever!
 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day one and two of the Caledonian Canal - the adventure continues

Image
The Lunatic crew for the Caledonian Canal   We entered the  Clachnaharry sea lock at Inverness for the 1.30 lock and were met by a very helpful, calm lock keeper who talked us through. There was a large sign saying Ireland this way! Clachnaharry Sea Lock, the entrance to the Caledonian Canal, The Great Glen, Loch Ness and Ireland! The lock was timed so that you could then sail through the railway swing bridge, then on to the Muirhead flight of four locks. We had relaxed once we got on to the canal, thinking things could only get better and there is much less to worry about in a canal as opposed to being out at sea, no tides to think about for example. How wrong we were, we were forgetting this is the Lunacy cruise. At the second lock Mick fell in! We heard a plop and a splash and Mick had fallen into the lock between the lock wall and the boat. Josh's quick thinking saved the day as he put the long swim ladder over the edge and Mick managed to climb up befor...
Read more

Day 48 and the return to our home port of Ramsgate.

Image
Lunar Sea and her crew back in Ramsgate  Dear Readers, we finally arrived back in Ramsgate five years after setting off on 1 May 2017. The weather then had been atrocious, but it couldn't have been more different for our return. It was promised to be the hottest day of the year, so we had plenty of sunshine and not very much wind. lt did pick up to about 12 knots as we approached Ramsgate, so we managed to get the sails up and the flags flying for our entrance to Ramsgate.  Leaving Dover, heading for the Eastern entrance,  on our way home now. It had been an uneventful 4 hour trip from Dover to Ramsgate, but for some reason the unusually hot weather had created an optical illusion and we had a really clear view of France as we passed Deal. Perhaps it is the high pressure, not sure why?  France, shall we go there instead? We had Josh's daughter Jo on board and Owen and Jordan, two of Josh's grandchildren, joined us in Dover for the day sail. When we got to the approac...
Read more
Image
  Hello again from Lunar Sea in Portishead. The boat has been here for two years now and we are continuing our adventure from tomorrow, the 31st May, by locking out of Portishead Marina (near Bristol in case you wondered) and we will be heading for Penarth Marina (near Cardiff) for our first stop. Then on to Padstow via Watchet for a night's stay and then probably an anchorage for one night off Clovelly, to break up the 18 hour trip from Watchet to Padstow.  We have been so lucky to have found this charming marina which has been Lunar Sea's home for two years, we will be sad to leave, but excited to be on the homeward stretch of our marathon around the UK sailing trip. It was supposed to take 2 years, but due to bad weather in year 1 and a mutinous crew, plus the pandemic in the third and fourth year, it will have taken 5 years (assuming we get back to Ramsgate this year, watch this space!) Wish us luck, calm seas and a good wind. I will try and do a daily blog, sailing condit...
Read more