Waving at the Waverley

The paddle steamer Waverley was built on the Clyde and launched in 1946, as a cruise ship to take day trippers through the Scottish lochs. By 1973 she was the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world and due for retirement but in a magnificent leap of faith was sold by the owners ( Caledonian MacBrayne) to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for One pound (£1). Since then the PSPS have fund raised and refitted the Waverley with multiple new boilers and she has become an iconic yearly visitor around the North Devon coast.

Here she is steaming into the landing bay at Lundy.

Perfectly smooth seas for the 400 pleasure cruisers.

On to the pier to let off island visitors.

Then off again for a cruise around the island.

Steaming down the west coast with a little bit of rock n’ roll.

Then past the Battery and off back to her tour of Britain.

Great experience, the one thing that surprised me was how swift she was.

What they had come to see was the expanding Puffin population of Lundy Island.

There’re here, they’re there, they’re everywhere.

New burrows in new places.

Waiting

Old relationships rekindled 

Posing

Rasorbills, one step beyond

Do what?

A little bit of blue.

Is this my new favorite?.

Pedigree predator. in the shadows, waiting.

 

No babies yet though

 

Lastly, one of my favourites and a deffo contender for the book.

 

Thank you.

As ever, get off your phone.

Big screen to view and click to make even bigger..

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