Saturday, July 12, 2014

Appearances can be deceptive in the Sound of Bute: Clyde bananas and a Cock.

We were not the only ones in the Sound of Bute on that lovely afternoon. MRV Scotia was quartering the area off Garroch Head that was used by boats such as the SS Shieldhall to dump Clyde bananas from 1908 until 1998. For those who think that there is a tropical fruit industry on the Clyde, please follow the SS Shieldhall link to discover the true meaning of the phrase "Clyde bananas". Presumably MRV Scotia  is measuring changes in the chemical composition of the sea bed sediments. It is hard to believe but the sea bed in this...

...beautiful spot has been despoiled by 140 million tons of sewage sludge. From Port Leithne we set off...

...round Garroch Head into the Sound of Bute with...

 ...Arran's rocky ridges soaring into the sky.

The north end of the isle is called the Cock of Arran...

...but for the life of me I cannot think why.