onthegogirl
August 20th, 2011, 01:19 PM
EDINBURGH
Today the weather was very much like Ireland. We sampled all the Scottish seasons in one day. From rain to scattered showers to a stiff breeze or warm sunshine, we had it all. I saw Roy just before he left us for the Queen. I’m sorry we missed the trip to Flam. It would have been fun.
We arrived at the Firth of Forth in the early morning and passed under the Forth Rail Bridge. Built in the eighteenth century it was a master of construction for it’s time and is still in use today.
My tour was to take me to a modern master of engineering, the Falkirk Wheel. This marvel was construction to celebrate the Millennium with a goal of restoring and connecting old waterways in the UK. This structure connects the Union Canal with the Forth River Canal using a water wheel instead of a series of locks. At this spot in Falkirk, there used to be a series of twelve locks. Two are still in use but the wheel replaces the other eight. The change in elevation of the two canals is about 80 feet.
It’s hard to describe the wheel. There are two cradles, each large enough to hold a canal size barge on opposite sides of the “wheel”. Picture a Ferris Wheel with only two compartments. Each is filled with water. When a boat sails into one of the compartments and using the Archimedes theory of water displacement, the wheel will lift one boat and lower the other. The energy required is equal to bringing electric kettles to the boil.
We were lifted up into the air and stopped at the entrance to the Union Canal. We sailed through a tunnel to the top basin, turned around headed to the tunnel again. At the end, we entered the upper cradle. It was strange to look out from the bow of the barge at see the sky. Then we slowly were lowered to the River Forth Canal. The process of raising and lowering a boat take four minutes.
The Wheel has revitalized areas around the canals. There were many pleasure boats either waiting for their turn or just moored nearby.
While most of our group walked the two miles to the remains of the Roman Antonine Wall, I stayed at the center, had tea and scones, watched the wheel and wandered the grounds in between the raindrops. My trick knee has been giving me fits the last two days and it is taking longer and longer to unlock it. I didn’t want to hold up the group or have to be evacuated.
So that was my day in Scotland. I know the question your asking. “Why didn’t you go into Edinburgh?” Two reasons; one, my knee, and two, in addition to the Tattoo there is the Fringe Festival running and the town is a zoo. So, all the wonderful sights of the city, the National Gallery, Holyrood House, Edinburgh Castle, etc. will just have to wait for a return trip.
At dinner tonight we had a Salute to the Haggis. A piper in full dress was escorted around the dinning room by the senior dining room staff. He read the poem by Robert Burns and quaffed a wee dram of whisky. Actually this cultural ritual is performed on Robbie Burns’ birthday in January but we enjoyed it. We ordered a haggis for the table and each had a bite. It is bits of meats mixed with oatmeal and has a whisky sauce. It wasn’t totally disgusting but I wouldn’t like to have to make a meal of it.
The show tonight was The Scottish Music Show consisting of four pipers and a drummer in full regalia, three dancers (two lovely lasses and a handsome lad) a Master of Ceremonies with a grand tenor voice, a violinist/vocalist and the orchestra consisting of a pianist and an accordion player. All were excellent.
Tomorrow is my last day and a sea day. Packing and organizing the luggage will be on top of the agenda. Boy, I am SOOO looking forward to that.
Today the weather was very much like Ireland. We sampled all the Scottish seasons in one day. From rain to scattered showers to a stiff breeze or warm sunshine, we had it all. I saw Roy just before he left us for the Queen. I’m sorry we missed the trip to Flam. It would have been fun.
We arrived at the Firth of Forth in the early morning and passed under the Forth Rail Bridge. Built in the eighteenth century it was a master of construction for it’s time and is still in use today.
My tour was to take me to a modern master of engineering, the Falkirk Wheel. This marvel was construction to celebrate the Millennium with a goal of restoring and connecting old waterways in the UK. This structure connects the Union Canal with the Forth River Canal using a water wheel instead of a series of locks. At this spot in Falkirk, there used to be a series of twelve locks. Two are still in use but the wheel replaces the other eight. The change in elevation of the two canals is about 80 feet.
It’s hard to describe the wheel. There are two cradles, each large enough to hold a canal size barge on opposite sides of the “wheel”. Picture a Ferris Wheel with only two compartments. Each is filled with water. When a boat sails into one of the compartments and using the Archimedes theory of water displacement, the wheel will lift one boat and lower the other. The energy required is equal to bringing electric kettles to the boil.
We were lifted up into the air and stopped at the entrance to the Union Canal. We sailed through a tunnel to the top basin, turned around headed to the tunnel again. At the end, we entered the upper cradle. It was strange to look out from the bow of the barge at see the sky. Then we slowly were lowered to the River Forth Canal. The process of raising and lowering a boat take four minutes.
The Wheel has revitalized areas around the canals. There were many pleasure boats either waiting for their turn or just moored nearby.
While most of our group walked the two miles to the remains of the Roman Antonine Wall, I stayed at the center, had tea and scones, watched the wheel and wandered the grounds in between the raindrops. My trick knee has been giving me fits the last two days and it is taking longer and longer to unlock it. I didn’t want to hold up the group or have to be evacuated.
So that was my day in Scotland. I know the question your asking. “Why didn’t you go into Edinburgh?” Two reasons; one, my knee, and two, in addition to the Tattoo there is the Fringe Festival running and the town is a zoo. So, all the wonderful sights of the city, the National Gallery, Holyrood House, Edinburgh Castle, etc. will just have to wait for a return trip.
At dinner tonight we had a Salute to the Haggis. A piper in full dress was escorted around the dinning room by the senior dining room staff. He read the poem by Robert Burns and quaffed a wee dram of whisky. Actually this cultural ritual is performed on Robbie Burns’ birthday in January but we enjoyed it. We ordered a haggis for the table and each had a bite. It is bits of meats mixed with oatmeal and has a whisky sauce. It wasn’t totally disgusting but I wouldn’t like to have to make a meal of it.
The show tonight was The Scottish Music Show consisting of four pipers and a drummer in full regalia, three dancers (two lovely lasses and a handsome lad) a Master of Ceremonies with a grand tenor voice, a violinist/vocalist and the orchestra consisting of a pianist and an accordion player. All were excellent.
Tomorrow is my last day and a sea day. Packing and organizing the luggage will be on top of the agenda. Boy, I am SOOO looking forward to that.