Today we visited a tribute to modern engineering the Falkirk Wheel which is a mechanism designed to move boats from one level to another without the use of locks. It is absolutely amazing. We were able to take a boat ride in the wheel. It was fun and so quiet. We were able to get some fantastic pictures, have a nice ride, and enjoy more time with our family. Originally, there were a series of canals in Scotland to move goods from the ocean to the inland. Over time the canals were used less and less and then fell into decay. The Scots decided that they were going to re-open the canals for pleasure boat/recreational use. Rather than re-create all the locks they created the Falkirk Wheel - it is now a big tourist attraction.
After the boat ride we had a picnic in the cars - too wet, windy and cold to picnic outside. Then we drove on to Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle dates from the early 1100's. It is in a strong defensive position with the castle built on stone face on three sides of the hill. The geologic formation is that of a volcanic Crag and Tail which is the result of glaciation and is prevalent in Scotland. The Castle was incredible and we had a fantastic afternoon wandering about, learning some British history and being amazed at what was accomplished without use of modern machines and architecture. It was truly fantastic. There were plenty of exhibits to keep the children interested. After we had obtained appropriate education and English culture for the day we went back into Stirling and had a delightful dinner, then back to Edinburgh for a sleep to prepare for another adventure tomorrow!
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