Wheel In The Sky

Last year when Papa came to visit he left us this book:

Ever since,the kids have wanted to visit to The Falkirk Wheel which is only about half an hour from Oma's house.  So today, off we went.

The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. The lift opened in 2002 and replaced the series of 11 locks that previously connected the canals, which fell in to disuse in the 1930s.

Of course today was also one of the few days in the last month that we saw rain...

Anyway, the Falkirk Wheel is 35 meters (115 feet) tall, the equivalent of 8 double decker buses stacked on top of each other.  The structure contains over 14,000 bolts and 45,000 bolt holes and took 12,000 tonnes of steel to create, but only uses 1.5KWh of energy to turn, the same amount as it would take to boil 8 household kettles.

The new lift and an old-style lock

On the boat-tour

Heading in to the lock

From the top of the lift towards the Rough Castle Tunnel

View from the top looking
back towards the lift and Forth Valley

Post hour-long-boat-tour-with-five-children it was time for a much needed lunch. Time also for the heavens to open again...

Still, there's only so wet you can get, so after lunch Papa took on the role of Chief Carer and introduced the kids to the nature trail, play park, Mini Canal and delights of the Water Play Area, while the gals and babies headed inside for their much needed cup of cha and fine piece.

Thanks!