MV Eurodam arrives at South Queensferry

Bit chaotic today as I had to go to South Queensferry and meet friends, Tom and Sue, who were coming ashore from the Holland America cruise liner, MV Eurodam, by tender into Hawes slipway.

Arrived early at 7.30 a.m., as I was trying to miss the traffic and get a parking space - wrong - the shows were in the "ferry" and all the public spaces were taken up as were the tour bus spaces. However, I was able to park up at the Hawes Inn car park opposite the slip way. BUT - bad luck struck again as I dropped the camera again and broke a second telephoto lens - "lucky white heather".

The liner eventually appeared, and the passengers were disembarked by tender - "Welcome to The City of Edinburgh" NOT NOT - what a disgrace, coming up the slipway and for those in need of a toilet, the local public conveniences are a total apology, but kept clean and there were hand towels.

The one consolation was that the sun was shining and by the time my friends eventually reached terra firma, at 11.20 a.m. it was quite pleasant in the sunshine. But what a chaotic reception for our visitors, not enough buses, a long wait for taxi's who were charging £25 to get into the City, and many had been directed to the long climb up to Dalmeny Railway station, only six hundred yards away, but nearly all straight upwards.
Our friends were pleased to see me and we did get away for a few hours, photos and adventures to follow.

I Ifound a couple of old pictures to add , one of the Forth Rail Bridge , circa 1900, and the other of a lifeboat, which was coincidental as the Police divers launch had turned up to observe the mornings activities.