Waverley at Gravesend Pier

It has been a very dismal day grey, wet until the evening. Just before sunset I went down to the pier to try and catch some light. I found, moored up to the pier, the paddle steamer Waverley. I remember sailing on her down the river Clyde many many years ago. The most exciting thing for a young boy was the chance to have a look at the engines. There was a place where you could stand and watch the the connecting rods moving to turn the crank attached to the paddles. Going to see the engines also became an excuse for the men to visit the bar that was situated nearby.