Snorkeling Day Port Glasgow. Greenock Waterfront. Gryfe Valley.

                                           ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN

This is a mix of three different trips in one go. A snorkeling day at Port Glasgow: an off grid weekend in The Gryfe Valley: and a Greenock Waterfront day. All three done with Alan.

We already knew about a quiet slipway beside Newark Castle in Port Glasgow so this is where we went during the extended May heat wave weather.

I've not been swimming or snorkeling for over ten years but Alan has.... and was keen... me less so.

But I've had all the gear for a long time so might as well give it a go. In my fertile imagination before this trip I swam across the sea like an Olympic champion or at least a graceful basking shark.... in painful reality I swam more like a house brick, which admittedly might be useful for scuba diving.... but not so good for surface gasping every few seconds due to persistent cold shock.... which did not really go away. Although in a city swimming pool I was fairly good and fast at breast stroke ( my local pool closed down decades ago) my above water distance swimming this time was disappointingly pathetic. Trying hard but getting nowhere fast. Almost stationary despite much thrashing to at least stay afloat. I can see why flippers are a good idea when snorkeling.

The water was flat calm. A perfect day.

The only waves produced by occasional passing ships in the Firth of Clyde Estuary.

The main drawback for me is that it's hard to snorkel and take photos at the same time. This is Alan. Being May the water was very cold so even with a wet suit on ( a basic thin one) I was completely breathless most of the time so only surface swimming with no diving at all was the plan. Although I used to swim the full length of the large local swimming pool underwater no problem and could even do two completely underwater circuits on occasion, after practice, I was really bad here. Snorkeling is unexpectedly isolating for a first timer. You can see the small area of seabed immediately below you but nothing in front, to the sides, or above so that anything might be happening there and you'd be totally unaware of it. That and struggling to stay afloat after such a long absence...the cold gasping, panic inducing water and the knowledge that big things certainly do share this water ( killer whales, dolphins, and seals have all been spotted here and filmed in past years so no doubt other big fish with no need to surface are here as well.... like Porbeagle and Mako sharks,..... (30 species of shark inhabit UK waters in fact), some well over ten feet in length. And I already have a very vivid imagination. Not so useful here! Safe to say, although I enjoyed the novelty... I was well out of my comfort zone. Like everything else in life it takes some getting used to.

It was a beautiful day though in an exceptional month of dry sunny weather.

The River Clyde Estuary in May.

Also in May we had an off grid weekend in the nearby Gryfe Valley and Corlick Hill district, seen here. Above and below.

A quiet and less visited area but it felt like a mini Sweden on this occasion. All lake and forest views. ( Gryfe Reservoir view here)

Also part of a circular cycle route we've both done in past years.

Sunset view.

Next up a walk along the sculpture trail at Greenock waterfront.

Metal Jelly fish.

Custom House Waterfront area.

Greenock Waterfront walk.

Beacon Arts and community Centre. Greenock Docks area.

Shipping Sculpture. Greenock.

Bird Lands. My coastal angels greet me...

The gift of flight. Apparently it was watching seabirds, gulls in particular, that inspired modern airplane design. And anyone who has watched gulls fly effortlessly in 80 mile an hour winds down the storm battered coastline in winter cannot fail to be impressed by their sheer ability in the air. 

Outstanding acrobats.

Pests to some eyes though... but always my sweet angels.