Today we are off to Grangemouth to see some powerful steeds, the Kelpies. The name Kelpies reflects the mythological transforming beasts who would lure the sailors on to the rocks only to disappear into the crashing waves. Kelpies were said to possess the strength and endurance of 10 horses, a quality that is analogous with the transformational change and endurance of Scotland's inland waterways. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse, think Clydesdales, of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coal ships that shaped the geographical layout of the area. This installation was created about 2013.
These
magnificent steeds are over 27 meters tall, made of stainless steel and are
positioned alongside one of the major motorways near Edinburgh.
the canal
The Kelpies
listening and watching
sniffing the winds
a boat entering the canal
using manpower to swing the bridge open
entering the boat basin
about to enter the lock
in the lock and closing the gates
tying up to the lock
lock has been filled, the boat has risen and untying in preparation for leaving
exiting the lock
further up the canal in Falkirk
Now back to that funny contraption I teased you with a couple of days ago - the Falkirk Wheel. The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Opened in 2002, it reconnects the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. The two canals served by the wheel were previously connected by a series of 11 locks. The wheel raises boats by 24 metres (79 ft), but the Union Canal is still 11 metres (36 ft) higher than the aqueduct which meets the wheel so boats must also pass through a pair of locks between the top of the wheel and the Union Canal. The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and one of two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom.
we are taking a ride - starting down here
going up.....
....higher......
......just about there....
the boat accompanying us in the lift left ahead of us
heading down the upper causeway
there's a tunnel ahead
out of the tunnel and into the boat basin - the two locks to take us
further up the Union Canal are just ahead
heading back into the tunnel for the trip down
our tour boat was called the Archimedes and it is the Archimedes principle on which the lift operates. The wheel is well balanced and takes the same amount of energy to operate as it does to boil 6 tea kettles
waiting for a newly arrived boat to come out of the causeway before
we can enter and make our trip down
a family out enjoying the day
No comments:
Post a Comment