Page 123 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0839 1106.doc

‘I went back and told my driver and he asked "how far is it?" I pointed it out along St Vincent Street and said "about two kilometres". A look of anxiety crossed his face, and he asked "can we avoid going up any hills?" I then began to appreciate just how empty his tank was! Consequently we headed along St Vincent Street, down Union Street and then under the Highlandman's Umbrella. His engine was misfiring because sludge was obviously now being used. About one block past the Highlandman's Umbrella his engine cut out completely, fortunately at a bit where he could easily pull over into the side of the road. I was then dispatched by taxi to the filling station at Partick where, fortunately, fuel cans were for sale and I brought two cans of diesel back to the coach. This then gave it enough fuel to get to Partick itself and fill up there. Thereafter the city tour, somewhat curtailed, went smoothly, but I would not have liked to have been a passenger sitting waiting in downtown Argyle Street and then at a petrol station in Partick!
Nearly missing the boat...and missing the boat!
By Jean Blair
‘I was lucky enough to guide on the cruise ship Lord of the Glens when it first started on the Caledonian Canal and Isle of Mull. Visitors were mainly North American and we had two coaches and two guides who stayed on board in the bowels of the ship which carries up to 48 passengers. A few incidents spring to mind...
The ship berthed in Tobermory overnight. The following morning after breakfast, two coaches and passengers and guides set off for Ffionaphort to take the ferry over to Iona, visit to the Abbey, lunch in hotel, ferry back around 15.00 and, on return to Tobermory, the ship would set sail. On one such occasion, as the coach was slowly negotiating the Main Street along the waterfront to the quayside, out of the corner of my eye, as I was relating the programme for the evening to my group in the coach, I spotted one of the passengers who had stayed in Tobermory for the day, going into one of the shops.
Knowing the ship would sail the moment everyone returned I alerted the Ship Manager and Captain and set off with my guiding colleague to find this passenger, (no space here a rather elderly lady). We were in and out of the shops, then I popped into the hairdressing salorn (thinking she’s not going to be in here!) but indeed there she was, head in the basin, having her hair washed! When she recognised me this is how the conversation went:
Me : Mrs Smith ...hello ....
Mrs Smith: Oh hello dear!
Me: The ship is ready to sail
Mrs Smith: Yes I’ll be there shortly after I’ve had my hair done
Me : No, it’s leaving now as soon as you and I are on board!
Mrs Smith: Now, that’s not possible! what about my hair?
Me: I will blow dry it for you when we get on board! Let’s go please!
‘I had to borrow a towel from the hairdresser, wrap Mrs Smith’s head in the towel and we both scurried back to the ship! No sooner was the gangplank lifted and we were off!!
Phew! Mrs Smith, bless her, was completely oblivious that she’d nearly been stranded in Tobermory as she had not signed out as she left the ship!
‘Another time leaving Iona with 24 passengers counted on the ferry, we arrived back at Ffionaphort and counting passengers on the coach, I found two ladies were missing. I checked the loos and the shop, they weren’t there. By the this time the ferry was returning again from Iona and here my two ladies stepped off the ferry...
“It was so beautiful Jean we went back on the ferry to have a last look!”
Another incident at Ffionaphort ferry, I had a group, the Clan Kincaid. I knew the passengers as we had been travelling for 10 days together. I gave out the tickets as the passengers were boarding the ferry and there was one passenger missing.
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