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August 2006

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Saturday 20 August

We packed the car this morning and headed home.

On the way we made a small detour to Banton Loch which is one of the reservoirs constructed to feed the summit level of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Despite all the rain in Scotland the water level was well down.  They expected it would just last this summer without any restrictions, which is much better than many of the English canals which have severe restrictions because of water shortages.

We had a delightful time on the Scottish Lowland Canals where all the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Their favourite saying was "nay bother" whatever we asked.

Now we are safely home we need to catch up with the movements of our friends on No Problem, the English equivalent of that saying, and their travelling companions on moore2life.

We also have a lot of video footage and stills to backup and start to edit for the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVD.  But we will be turning our attention to the Cotswold Canals DVD which we how to issue first, in time for Christmas sales for the Cotswold Canals Trust.

It's been a busy 2 weeks, with updated blogs every day. Keep watching for updated blogs, but they won't be every day.

Friday 18 August

Just Edinburgh side of the Falkirk tunnel is the "laughin and greetin" bridge.  There are faces on each side of the bridge looking very different.

It is said they represent the faces of the two contractors who built the canal.  One had the easy job of constructing the level canal towards Edinburgh while the other had the difficult job of digging Falkirk Tunnel and constructing the flight of locks to joint the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Click on the pictures to see a larger and clearer version.

 

We made our final rotation today as we descended the wheel around lunchtime.  We were descending early to allow Andrew to catch a train home early afternoon before taking a scout group off to camp tomorrow.

We just beat the weather with only a very light drizzle.  All the other hire boats with a Saturday handover descended later in the afternoon in pouring rain with a nice crosswind.  There's certainly a lot of weather in the top gondola.

Tomorrow we have to pack the car and drive home.  It may be late so don't hold you breath waiting for a blog tomorrow.

Thursday 17 August

Another wheely good day today.

We headed back down locks 20-17 and under Bonnybridge lifting bridge this morning.  The last locks of this holiday, worked once again by cheerful and helpful British Waterways staff.

Turning right at the junction in Falkirk we went up the single lock into the basin where we were held briefly waiting for the previous rotation to complete.

One of the Seagull Trust boats emerged from the lower gondola and headed off to the pontoons on our right.

We were signalled into the lower gondola and one of the trip boats joined us.  Then the near silent rotation to the upper position.

A short transit through the new tunnel and up the staircase locks brought us to the level of the Union Canal.  This would take use all the way to Edinburgh but we have stopped near the Muiravonside Country Park for the evening.

Tomorrow we head back down the wheel to moor near the hire base ready to return our hire boat on Saturday morning.

Wednesday 16 August

It's been uphill all day today.

Starting at the Carron Basin, just above the River Carron and the Firth of Forth. we ascended through locks 3 to 16 before reaching the junction at the Falkirk Wheel.

On our way up we passed the "wee dredger" coming down.  Unfortunately it wasn't as "wee" as its name suggests as it wouldn't fit under the bridge behind the dredger in the photo.  We had to lower the level of the water in the pound between the locks so it would fit under.  Fortunately it was only a short pound so it didn't take long.

We passed the swing bridge at the junction and the lifting bridge at Bonnybridge before tackling locks 16-20 to reach the summit pound.

This took us through Dullatur Bog, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) when the canal follows a straight cut.

This summit pound would take us all the way to Glasgow but we only went as far as Auchinstarry to fill up with water and visit the shop in the village.   Then we retuned a short distance to Craigmarloch where we are moored quietly on our own.

Tuesday 15 August

Another short day today, descending the locks to the eastern end of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Last night we were a little later to bed than usual as we discovered the Falkirk Wheel was illuminated with coloured lights.  These gradually changed and we have a whole range of different coloured photos to choose just one for this blog.

Then this morning we set off down locks 16 to 3 when we reached the Carron Basin where lock 2 allows exit onto the River Carron which then leads to the Firth of Forth.

There is no lock 1 as the end of the canal was lost under the motorway and another road (cheekily called the Forth & Clyde Way).  The original locks 1 and 2 were also lost and one new lock replaces the two old ones.

There is a plan to split the channel of the River Carron to extend the canal back to the docks at Grangemouth where the disused docks, once connected to the canal's original route, will be turned into a marina.

Now we have cruised the whole of the Scottish Lowland Canals and we will be heading back up to somewhere above lock 20 tomorrow.

Monday 14 August

Happy Birthday Susan.

Back from Linlithgow to Falkirk today.

A leisurely start then passing through the Falkirk Tunnel and the new Roughcastle Tunnel to the upper aqueduct at the Falkirk Wheel.

We followed a trip boat into the upper gondola, then rode down together.  This gave us the advantage of the commentary from the guide on the trip boat drifting across through the windows.

He carefully explained all the technical terms and answered questions from those on the trip boat.
 

Tomorrow we will be heading down the final section of the Forth & Clyde Canal to the River Carron lock.  We will have to get used to the specialist terms once again - those we don't meet on the English Canals.

The British Waterways (BW) staff always refer to the person steering the boat as "skipper" which seems an odd term to us.  Since the majority of boats they work through the locks outside the 6 weeks holiday period are coastal vessels transiting from coast to coast it's a normal term for those users.

The other term which makes us think, is when coming into a broad lock with a choice of which side (half) of the lock we will use they will ask for "port side tie up" meaning keep left - or "starboard side tie up" meaning keep right.  Sometimes these just get abbreviated to "port side", "starboard" or even just "stbd".

It's really a compliment to be given such instructions as they sometimes just open both gates and settle for the boat getting in at all.  If both ends are alongside the same side of the lock it's a bonus.  The BW crews complimented us on our handling of the boat and were soon just opening one set of gates only.

Sunday 13 August

A short day today as we moved back to Linlithgow.

Heading off from Ratho once the sun had warmed the air, it was a leisurely cruise to Linlithgow where we are now on the pontoons at the visitor moorings.

We've replenished our supplies from Tescos and we've booked our descent on the Falkirk Wheel for tomorrow afternoon.

Now it's time to put our feet up and enjoy the warm Sunday afternoon so it's just a quick blog today.

Saturday 12 August

We're moored in the same place as last night at Ratho.  But now we're facing the opposite direction after visiting Edinburgh.

We set off this morning went under the Leamington Lift Bridge at the entrance to the Basin in Edinburgh just before lunch.

There were several wooden sculptures along the towpath towards Edinburgh, including this frog.  This completed our journey along the full length of the Union Canal.

Edinburgh was full of people.  Not only did we pick a Saturday but it was also the Fringe Festival.  At least it was warm and sunny.

We returned to the boat mid afternoon and after clearing out some of Scotland's best weeds from round the propeller we were ready to head out of Edinburgh.

Alex, the ever helpful British Waterway's Operative opened the lift bridge for us and we were on our way.

Now we are planning out how to spend the rest of our time on the Lowland Canals.  We need to return down the Falkirk Wheel and do the remaining part of the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Carron Basin before next Saturday.

Friday 11 August

A little closer to Edinburgh today.

First a walk around the loch at Linlithgow while the sun was shining on the church and palace.

The path goes right around the lock and back past the palace.  It was very quiet in the morning and the rabbits were out on the grass - at least they were until I tried to get my camera out.

Then we headed along the Union Canal towards Edinburgh, passing through Winchburgh and Broxburn on the way.  We also passed Niddry Castle, with its connections with Mary Queen of Scots.

When we reached the Almond Aqueduct we filmed it from the boat as we went across then moored for short time while I explored the feeder from the reservoir into the canal.  Then we reversed across the aqueduct while we sent Andrew into the adjacent field with the camera to film us crossing the aqueduct again.  If you look carefully you can see us on the photo.  We also have the matching video footage for the DVD.

Now we are moored at Ratho ready for our expedition into Edinburgh tomorrow.

Thursday 10 August

We had a wheely good day today.

Setting off from Auchinstarry this morning we descended through the four locks at Castlecary and went under the Lifting Bridge at Bonnybridge.

Then the right turn at Falkirk and up the first lock into the basin below the wheel.  Straight across the basin and into the Gondola alongside one of the trip boats.  Although the trip boats are wide boats the Gondola is wide enough to hold us both.

Then the almost silent rotation as we ascend and the other Gondola descends with its equivalent weight of boats and water counterbalancing us.

From the top of the wheel it's just a short trip across the aqueduct and through the short new tunnel under the railway to the new staircase locks.  Then along the new cut for about 1/2 mile before we joined the original Union Canal to head for Edinburgh.

We soon passed the end of the original link between the canals, but the line of locks is no longer visible, hidden under a modern housing estate.

Now we're moored at Linlithgow, and we've just topped up our supplies at Tescos.  Tomorrow we will head a little closer to Edinburgh.

Wednesday 9 August

Glasgow to Auchinstarry.

Leaving the Glasgow Branch of the Forth & Clyde Canal this morning we turned right at Stockingfield Junction to head eastwards.

Only two obstacles to pass today.  One swing bridge and one lifting bridge.  Both operated by British Waterways (BW) staff.

We arrived early at the first bridge and while we were waiting for the BW staff the Marjorie Seagull winded nearby.  Operated by the Seagull Trust this is one of the Seagull boats providing canal trips for the less able and disadvantaged members of the community.

We were moored at Auchinstarry Basin by early afternoon and went walking to the Antonine Wall.  Looking down across the valley gave this view of Auchinstarry Basin where we are moored.

Tomorrow we're off to Falkirk and onto the Union Canal with our first trip on the wheel.

Tuesday 8 August

Back from Bowling to Glasgow today.

We spent a quiet evening in Bowling Basin watching the rabbits playing on the grass during the evening.  Then headed back up the locks to Glasgow where we are moored this evening.

Once again we passed through the Dalmuir Drop Lock.  It's all electrically operated and the British Waterways staff didn't even have to press the buttons as Susan did that for them.

We passed one boat coming down the locks but that was the only other boat we saw moving today. 

Neither did we see any moored boats along the canal - just those in Bowling Basin and at Glasgow.

Tomorrow morning we will head off to Auchinstarry, then on Thursday we are booked to ascend the Falkirk Wheel around lunchtime and head towards Edinburgh on the Union Canal.  We will probably moor somewhere around Falkirk Tunnel for the evening if all goes well.

The weather forecast seems to be lacking sunshine so if anyone could email us some that would be appreciated.

Monday 7 August

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandad.

A leisurely day today as we travelled from Glasgow to Bowling.  The British Waterway's (BW) staff operated all the locks and the opening bridges.

We had time to stop for morning coffee and biscuits.  At lunchtime we paused at McMonagles, the only sail through fish and chip shop for a take-away, then moored at the pontoons just a few meters further on to eat it.

There are two pedestrian lift bridges very close together just after this and we had to wait between them as they are only opened one at a time to keep the shoppers happy.

This afternoon included the Dalmuir Drop lock when the boat is lowered one side of a low bridge to pass underneath before being raised again at the other side.  The bridge used to lift before the canal closed but caused congestion even then.  Now it would cause complete chaos to the road traffic so the drop lock provides a novel solution to the problem.

Now we are safely moored in Bowling Basin for the night.  Tomorrow we will return along the same route to Glasgow tomorrow.

Sunday 6 August

Our first full day on the Scottish Lowland Canals.  We travelled from the top of lock 20 to the moorings at Applecross outside the British Waterways (BW) Offices near the end of the Glasgow arm. 

Unlike the English canals, the bridges have to be operated by BW staff so we travelled in convoy through the two bridges this morning.  The request was to be at the first bridge for 10:00 and we queued up waiting for the last to arrive so the bridge was only operated once.  Then we kept in convoy to the second bridge before travelling at our own speed for the rest of the day.

En route we passed the Wee Spark.  This is a reduced size replica of a Clyde Puffer, with a suitable pun on the name of the Vital Spark featuring in the tales of Para Handy.

Tomorrow we are booked for the journey to Bowling Basin, the western extreme of the Forth & Clyde Canal.  We need to be at the top of Maryhill Locks, the first after Glasgow, by 09:15 and the BW team will escort us, and any other waiting boats, down to Bowling.

Saturday 5 August

We made it to Scotland.

After staying in Glasgow last night we were at Falkirk very promptly this morning.  The hire base is shared with Alvechurch Boats, Black Prince and Capercaille cruisers.  The boats are moored two abreast along pontoons at the rear of the office, which is the smallest hire boat office I've ever seen.  It seems to be only about 10 feet square and soon filled up with people.

Handover went fairly smoothly and we headed west along the Forth & Clyde Canal towards Glasgow.

Unlike the English Canals where locks and swing bridges are generally operated by boaters themselves, the Scottish Lowland Canals are operated by British Waterways (BW) staff.

There were 6 boats heading west from Falkirk and we were quickly formed into three pairs to go through the four locks at Castlecary today.

There are two BW operated bridges tomorrow and we have agreed to meet the BW staff at the first at 10:00 tomorrow morning so it's an early night tonight and set off around 08:45 tomorrow.

Friday 4 August

We're off to Scotland.  Just got to pack the car before we head north.

We're spending the next 2 weeks filming for the forthcoming Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVD.  Starting from Falkirk tomorrow we'll be heading west to Glasgow and Bowling first, then returning through Falkirk and the wheel to Edinburgh.

If the Bluetooth link from the laptop to the mobile phone for a dial-up internet connection works you should see daily updates on progress as we work our way along the route.  If it doesn't -  then you may not hear from us for the next two weeks.

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