Our flight from NY (Kennedy) to Edinburgh on the third lifed off about 8:45 PM, and we arrived at 8:30 AM on the 4th. We had the opportunity to sleep in-flight but for most of us that wasn’t what happened. We mainly just rested and/or watched movies. Once on the ground there was a tram to the train to Falkirk, and a taxi to the wheel. The boat hire place is right at the base of the wheel so we checked in, had lunch and the went through the hand over process. They just explained where everything on the boat was and what essentials we needed to do daily to assure the boat was at its best. And we were off.

This stop was planned because there was a Tesco (grocery) store right there. We did our limited shopping and settled into the boat. The winds during this night sounded and felt like they were gale force, we weathered the storm per se since we were basically up 48 hrs.

Day 2 was a beautiful day, lighter winds, winding canal, easy going. Some new experiences like an aqueduct crossing and some local wildlife.

The cone was for safety; apparently someone was “happy” and climbed up and got uh stuck.

This was a 0 mile day. We just toured Linlithgow, the castle and two museums.

These shots are from around or from within Queen Margaret’s Bower, the highest point on the castle.

St. Michaels church pictures

This museum had reenactors there with a wealth of knowledge. There other displays as well, including a room that was dedicated to curling. Very interesting but due to the lighting hard to photograph.

From the Canal Museum

On this day we were in and out of some light rain, until we had lunch at the aqueduct. Then it got a bit serious, it got real. When docking both Bruce and I got soaked. Well the folks here just take it in stride. As they say here, welcome to Scotland where you get all 4 seasons in one day.

I can’t stress enough the beauty here. Photos don’t do it justice, and my eyesight won’t let me manually focus the camera, then the vegetation on the sides of the canal affect the auto focus. so there aren’t many pictures today (not many is reletive).

A travel day again, this time to Edinburgh. We had some misty conditions in the morning, while we did laundry and planned our day. We had a great day, but a bit of wind which was strong enough to effect our boat. We got to the lift bridge in Edinburgh and moored for the night. We will need to do an about face before we leave but the wind today is just too much.

This was our first day of exploring Edinburgh and there is allot to explore.

First, since we didn’t turn the boat yesterday, due to the wind, we turned the boat. Luckily the car in the point of the turning basin had moved so we didn’t have that to dodge. Once about and moored we went on our adventures. We got tickets on a tour bus you could hope on and off of. We rode it a full circle of the red line and then made a decision on where to start (at the top of the hill – duh). On to the pics:

The next few pictures are taken while on the tour bus, and as such I can’t identify what or where in the city they are from, sorry.

I found it interesting that England is depicted a the lion; Same as David in the bible and something tangible. Where Scotland is depicted as the Unicorn; Mythical. Just my thoughts nothing else.

Off the bus and on foot now.

Yes, Doug touched the toes too, but my luck is better behind the camera.

These pictures were taken in the museum at the Kings Gallery.

That was the end of our day, at least 3 miles of walking and more on the bus tour.

Today is our second day of touring Edinburgh area. Since we have Big Bus tour (Hop on – Hop Off bus) tickets we took the Red line today. The red line put us further into the north sea area. Peg and Linda went to a garden, where Bruce and I went to see the Yacht Britannia. We had tickets for Edinburgh castle tickets for 2:30, so we had deadlines. Traffic for the bus was bad so it bitinto the time we could spend at our locations. The ladies went to the Royal Botanic Garden, which Peg could have spent all day at. Bruce and I went to see the North sea and the Yacht Britannia, but the tour was too long. Between the time we spent time getting something to eat at the port, and the bus delay we were tight on time. So both groups spent time in the respective gift shop. We hopped back on the bus to be at the castle for our ticked time.

The Edinburgh Castle was a great tour. I wasn’t aware of how Scotland was involved with the american revolution, and slave trade. There was allot to see and learn about there. I am always impressed with the construction of these castles and old churches, and then thinking how they were heated and lived in. It had to be a real hard cold life at times.

There were other buildings we went into – some did not allow photography, and others were just hard to photograph correctly.

These three days were spent backtracking the canal to Falkirk to return the boat on Monday morning. We had some new adventures/sights, some repeats (the Bridge restaurant) and just great sights/weather.

Since we travel so fast (most walkers and all joggers outpace us) it is time to start back. Since this is a repeat of the getting there I am not taking many pictures. Just things I might have missed or I find unique.

Day 8 -Sept 12th – Edinburgh to Ratho : We turned the boat around yesterday but here are pictures of the turning basin, and a look back the way we are to go. The school is the fourth picture. To turn the boat (72 foot long) you put the bow (front) into the point in the third figure, and push the stern (rear) of the boat around, and off you go.

Once we got to Ratho (just outside Edinburgh) we got a sewage pump out. Nothing gross or difficult, there are volunteers that take care of it. We then went to visit Edinburgh’s International Climbing gym.

We ate dinner again at the Bridge, great food and service.

Day 9 Sept 13th – Ratho to Linlithgow :

Day 9 Sept 14th – Linlithgow to Falkirk. A beautiful day; no wind, warm and still waters. We had to make an appointment (we made it yesterday) to get through the wheel and the two locks.

The cill in the picture above is the biggest threat to inexperienced boaters. You want your boat far enough forward to avoid getting hung on this cill. The damage that can cause to a boat can only be imagined. But there have also been injuries and yes deaths associated with getting hung on the cill. Normally the cill is well marked and you only need to be aware when you are being lowered. At these locks there were trained volunteers to assist and keep everyone safe.

Currently the Forth and Clyde are under renovation so we couldn’t float there. We got to the top of the locks that head there, and used the turning basin. We had to turn around anyway to dock the boat properly. We then took a taxi over to see the Kelpies. If you were to take the forth and Clyde you would head to Glasgow, one of the sections would be on a river. Something to try in the future.

Day 10 Sept 15th- Good bye. So today we finished packing, got everything off the boat and squared up with the rental company. This includes them refilling the fuel tank, and either refunding what wasn’t used of the fuel deposit or paying the overage. We were lucky and got a small refund. We took a taxi to the train, then that to the tram then on to the airport. Here Linda and Bruce were leaving tomorrow early in the morning back to the states. Bruce had a grape harvest to organize and complete (he is a wine producer from NY – Duck and Dog winery, Rhinebeck NY).

Peg and I took a flight to Dublin Ireland. An uneventful trip except for the rain. We found our AirBnB using a taxi, mass transit was available but the taxi was easier. The taxi driver proved to be invaluable as well, giving us ideas where to go in Dublin. The AirBnB was TIGHT, the queen sized bed was the prominent feature. To move around the bed Peg and I would have to hug at times. There was a cook stove, washer dryer, fridge and a table at the end of the bed. I had to move the table against the counter each night to be able to get out of bed for the old man potty break at 3am. But it was a clean, comfortable enough and affordable.