A Magical Day at Bowling. Autumn tree colours. Reflections. Ships and Kayaks.

                                                    ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.

Not all my visits to Bowling, a small village on the River Clyde between Clydebank and Dumbarton, have been wonderful. Sometimes during the busy summer months I was glad to leave it. Too busy, too popular, no feeling of personal space or freedom on a walk... but in certain conditions. No wind. A sunny morning. Night time temperatures falling to zero degrees and ice all over the car. All signs of the stars moving into place for one rare enchanting day. I sent a message to Alan. He was keen as well.

In these conditions the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bowling is a magical place....for  reflections. With the first freezing temperatures of this autumn arriving overnight house boilers and boat stoves are being used again. Wood smoke drifting up above the autumnal trees.

A backdrop of the Kilpatrick Hills makes Bowling a special place for a photographer. No need to go to Skye or  Applecross to see a pretty Scottish harbour. Here's one only 15/30 minutes drive or bus or train from Glasgow City Centre.

Plenty in Bowling Harbour to see....

And plenty out on the River Clyde to enjoy. Erskine Bridge view here.

A group of sea kayakers waiting in the shallows to go down the river. Deep water channel markers with the Renfrewshire Hills behind.

The reason why they were waiting... a large ship heading upriver.

A gas ship.

Kayakers back their journey again.

Male Mallard duck with iridescent green head. Sometimes a dazzling dark blue one.

Different light. Early morning. Grey Heron.

The sandy beach at Erskine. Start of two fine walks mentioned/detailed in the last post. From Bowling Village we walked up the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Saltings and Erskine Bridge itself then doubled back close to the River Clyde waterfront. 

Now and again you get a day that is truly sent from Heaven. And this was one.

The beauty of Bowling... in autumn.

The Customs House. Built in the days of shipping rum, sugar, tobacco, spices etc and still in operation today, recording departures and arrivals by sea or canal. 

Swan Sculptures at Bowling. 

No wind is essential for good reflections and it does not happen in Scotland very often.

Even had a couple of tugs make an appearance later on. 

And here's a person with magical fairy dust sprinkled all over them. An exceptional talent. A musical gift to the people of Santa Monica and LA. With  the equally sparkling Daniele Vitale on Sax.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8homwi