North Pier, Oban

It's been a dreadful day in Oban, murky and wet, no light to speak of. But there were some lovely boats tied up at the North Pier. You have a close up because all of the shots of whole boats were too dark and would not be lightened no matter what. Poor old Hermione was looked a bit sorry when I got back to her, dripping wet. She is used to a comfy garage, not the persistent drip of Scottish skies.

The nearest boat with the red sails is The Provident out of Brixham, a sailing ketch built in 1924. She was sold in the 1930's and used as a private yacht, but in 1952 she found her vocation with the Island Cruising Club in Salcombe, as a charter and sail training vessel. Her destinations are too numerous to mention, but pretty much world wide, and lucky for us including Oban. She's very handsome with her 70ft wooden deck and red sails.

The second boat is the MV Gaelic Rose out of Oban, a charter diving boat which sails the West Coast of Scotland including Mull, Skye and St Kilda. Locally owned of course.

Also moored round the other side was the Glen Masson out of Glasgow, the Hjalmar Bjorge, Stornoway, both smaller cruise ships I think, and then the magnificent Flying Dutchman. Anyone interested can see these last two on my Blipfolio. The Flying Dutchman was full of bikes.

So quite a treat to walk round North Pier today, I just love old ships with lots of wood and a bit of colour to their lives. I'm hoping the fact that they are all in Oban at the same time does not mean storms at sea.

Kerrera in the background of course.