Doon the Watter!

We sailed down the River Clyde today. It was pouring!!!

Today is the first day of the traditional "Glasgow fair" holiday, the first day of a two week period when, in the past, factories would close to give workers a holiday and to enable annual maintenance schedules to be completed. 

It's not so popular now, but in the 1950s certainly, families would sail from Glasgow to the many seaside resorts of the clyde coast for their annual break at this time. Places like Largs, Ayr, Girvan and Rothesay were all popular and were jam-packed with working class families from Glasgow and the west of Scotland. When I was young we went to Girvan though by car and not boat.

In fact the Scottish term "steamin" (meaning drunk) was reportedly started when men got drunk as they steamed down the Clyde on the boats for their holidays. 

Going "doon the watter" is also a famous saying. If you're interested, Google it - there's some great photos around of the past.

Weather: dreich!

EXTRA PHOTO: The Riverside Museum and the tall ship, Glenlee.