The middle section of the Navy's newest Aircraft Carrier passing Innellan on its way to Rosyth.

More Maersk Movement

Moving through the gloom of Wednesday afternoon on the Clyde, the Maersk Beaumont - under her own power this time and according to AIS heading for Le Havre. Things getting better economy wise? Don't know as there is a Maersk tanker sitting off Arran with Loch Striven as its destination!

Maersk Movement

Seen just a few mintes ago, the Maersk Beaumont being towed from Loch Striven to Gourock. Earlier the Maersk Boston had taken the same journey and is now sitting off Gourock. It seems that this is the beginning of the process of getting their engines ready for use again.

A few days earlier the SLPerformance underwent this process. She was due to pick up one last load of containers before sailing to the Far East for 'recycling'

The Maersk Baltimore and Brooklyn remain in Loch Striven as I think does the Maersk Bentonville, but only the Baltimore and Brooklyn have their AIS turned on again. Now does this indicate that, for Maersk at least, things are getting better?

When 'Doon the water' is dangerous!

Woke up this morning to find a fishing boat aground just along the road from our house. It would appear that the Avalon got into trouble last night and the crew were lifted off by helicopter. Thankfully it would appear that all were safe and the biggest casualty was the boat itself.

The Clyde is only a relatively small river, but still dangerous, and the number of wrecks recorded in it confirms this. It was rather windy! I look forward to finding out what happened.

Not a day for going 'Doon the Watter'!

Not a very clear pic - partly due to it being taken through a window and partly due to the poor visibility. What you see is as enhanced as I could get Elements 7 to give me.

The pic is of the Coruisk making its way down the Clyde to Rothesay. The weather did deteriorate after this and, after the Bute making a run from Gourock at about 3:30pm, sailings were cancelled.

Or Maybe Six?

Although we hear that the recession is easing it doesn't look that way for shipping companies.

Yet another Maersk container ship has appeared on the Clyde. The Maersk Brooklyn is sitting at anchor off Rothesay Bay and it would seem it is bound for Loch Striven to be laid up with its five other sister ships.

Again it is one of Maersk's newer container ships, built in 2007, and of the same design as four of the others in Loch Striven.

Then there were Five!

Having heard of the arrival of a fifth Maersk ship I had intended getting my good wife to take me back up Loch Striven to take more pics.

The best laid plans! We did set out, but as luck would have it the wind picked up somewhat and Fiona decided - given my lack of sailing skill - that it would be better to head back long before getting close to the ships.

The picture here, therefore, was taken from the road running along the Loch.

More of Newcastle

Returning to our Newcastle trip I have to say that I found the 'Geordies' extremely friendly. I don't mean to suggest that I was expecting anything else, but it was simply the warmth and openness of them that I found exceptionally pleasant.

Newcastle, itself, is a strange mixture of very new buildings alongside the very old. Not unusual in a city, but strangely noticeable here for some reason. I mean that in many cities you have areas of new build and areas of old - here you seem to find new almost 'grafted' on to old constructions. Really interesting!

Also noticeable was the night-life in the city. I know that I have portrayed us as the 'country-cousins' come to town, but it was fascinating to see just how many folk were out mid-week eating out and enjoying themselves. I can only imagine what the weekend is like! As noted in my last blog it's good for us wee villagers to get out and see more of the world. They are also a hardy breed in Newcastle - the lassies braving the elements with minimum dress. Lots and lots of bonnie lassies there! Now can I block my wife from reading this?