Falkirk Wheel

We started the day with a 'Scottish' fried breakfast - eggs, bacon, toast, beans, black pudding, haggis, mushrooms, tomato, delicious, but what did it do to our arteries! The day was lovely and sunny. We had been told to expect poor weather in Scotland, but the day dawned with beautiful blue skies. This is the Falkirk wheel - a feat of engineering which replaces 11 locks - allowing a boat to change between the canals from Edinburgh to the one from Glasgow (155 feet height difference) in 20 minutes, instead of an entire day! As it rotates, a 'tub' of water (and a boat) is carried up, whilst another is carried down. In the picture above, you can see a boat in the closest tub on its way up. We took a cruise on the river, which included a ride up the lock, along a short stretch of river, and then back down the lock again. As we were settling into the boat, a face appeared at the window - it was Alan and Sonia's son, James, and his uncle Angus, who had also decided to visit the wheel! They joined us for the morning. The kids had a great time! From above, the canal ends under a series of circular white arms, which are the topside of the wheel.

The ride on the Wheel was great, then we went for a lovely walk along the canals, before the kids had a great play in the playground, with a late lunch and ice-cream!