Scotland
8 November-
|
8 November 2010
On the Road into Scotland Parked- Markinch train Station |
9 November 2010
Scottish Countryside, Genealogy Research
Falkland Palace, Record Officer
Parked- City street in Cuper
Scottish Countryside, Genealogy Research
Falkland Palace, Record Officer
Parked- City street in Cuper
10 November 2010
St Andrews
Castle, Cathedral
Parked- City Street
St Andrews
Castle, Cathedral
Parked- City Street
11 November 2010
St Andrews
Museums
Parked- Same spot
St Andrews
Museums
Parked- Same spot
12 November 2010
Dundee
Research Ship Discovery, Verdan Works
Parked- Discovery Parking lot
Dundee
Research Ship Discovery, Verdan Works
Parked- Discovery Parking lot
13 November 2010
Scottish Countryside
Glamis Castle, Recsobie Churchyard
Parked- Aberdeen Testco Parking lot
Scottish Countryside
Glamis Castle, Recsobie Churchyard
Parked- Aberdeen Testco Parking lot
14 November 2010
Aberdeenshire Countryside
Pennan Fishing Village, Duff House Mansion, Knocking down scaffolding in Elgin, Spynie Palace
Parked- Road outside Spynie Palace
Aberdeenshire Countryside
Pennan Fishing Village, Duff House Mansion, Knocking down scaffolding in Elgin, Spynie Palace
Parked- Road outside Spynie Palace
15 November 2010
Arberlour
Day off in Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park, 49th birthday
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
Arberlour
Day off in Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park, 49th birthday
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
16 November 2010
Arberlour
Long Walks/Glenfiddich Distillery
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
Arberlour
Long Walks/Glenfiddich Distillery
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
17 November
Arberlour
Charging Batteries
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
We are staying in a caravan park for two nights. (stayed for 3) I have to admit is the most relaxing part of the trip, no limit to electricity, no finding a place to spend the night. These are the weekends, and a chance to finish E-mails.
We left off in the Markinch train station. We spent last night in a "Tesco" parking lot in Aberdeen. Tesco is just like Walmart, we get most of our food and fuel from them. Open 24 hours but not quite as friendly as Walmart is to the RV'er. Still it is a nice place to spend the night.
Life would be perfect if the UK had 60Hz power! Our only challenge is keeping the battery levels up. We will pull into a caravan park tomorrow to dump and fill. I bought a second battery charger to see if we can charge the batteries in the two days we will spend (for my B-day) in the park. Two 20A chargers take 2 days to charge what steady sun will top up in 4 hours. We seem to do very well going 7 days between fill ups (water, fuel) Living with tight limits on utilities is good for us. heating the RV is my joy- I fire up the boiler twice a day just long enough to heat the bath, and that is our warmth for the day, and two hot baths for me. If I leave the boiler on I could cook myself. I will do a few jobs while we are stopped, run a second wire from the alternator to the batteries, install an AC outlet for Shannon
Despite all the long hours, effort and damage to my body and checkbook, I am really glad we built our own RV rather than try and buy one. We are just now gaining confidence that everything actually does work, and when there is a noise or sound, not thinking that something has gone wrong. When you buy a factory model of anything you buy confidence that it works and has been tested again and again, custom built items, like boats or RVs, always come with problems. I have read of the nightmares suffered by custom boat owners when they first pick up their boats, some sailing them across the ocean while they find these problems. It would be very scary. Many builders will make the first voyage with the new owner to work out the bugs- that's what I'm doing. Plus I have to admit we thrive on the pride we feel as a family when people gawk at it. We give lots of tours. I joke that when Shannon flies out to USNA we turn her room into an exit door, so the tours can come in one way and exit at the end of the official tour route.
The last few days have been spent visiting ancestral haunts and the golf mecca of the world. We intended to drive from Markinch to Dundee with a one night stop in St Andrews. It took us two days to get to St Andrews, and we spent two nights there, so we are again a bit behind schedule. After Markinch we stopped at the village of Falkland and it was so spectacular that we spent the day there, and slept parked in the town of Cupar "Cooper" We have found that if we drive at first light we have plenty of places to park, as was the case in St Andrews. We found a spot so good that we spent two nights. The second night we went to an talk at the local library given by a local Scottish Olympian, Donald MacGregor (marathon.) We bought his book. He was a much better runner than writer. Next came Dundee where my Paternal Grandfather came from. I found records of the family burial spot purchased in 1871 by Alexander Cuthbert, and he was buried there in 1879. Then comes 14 others buried in the same two plots. When I found the grave, there is no mention of the guy who bought it at all, though I assume his bones are crowded down in there with the rest of them. The last person crammed into that space was my Great grandfathers sister buried there in 1971. No record at all of Great Grandpa Charles the marine Engineer.
Dundee was great, but a bit depressing. We only spent one night there but really did a lot. We parked at and visited the Polar exploration ship "Discovery" Great museum. We are learning much about polar exploration
I took a long walk around the city and visited addresses of ancestors. There was only one address that still had the original house, 25 Scott Street, named after the Polar Explorer, Robert Scott, Captain of the Discovery. I'm sure the apartments were considered nice in 1888, but they are run down today. I think it has always been mostly slum, demonstrated very well by a museum we went to "Verdant Works" It was an old Jute factory, jute, a form of canvas was the main export of Dundee in the 19th century. Dundee jute canvas was used on Conestoga wagons out west. The living conditions were horrible and I think the factory we were in may be the one the Cuthberts worked for- the street they lived on was part of the attached slum. Its great for the children to see those harsh conditions - makes them appreciate what they have. And they do.
Reading aloud from two books "Finding Sanctuary, Monastic Steps for everyday Life" and "How the Scotts Invented the Modern World." We have been to so many monastery ruins that it is interesting to read about why they exist, we know they were for Monks, but why do Monks do what they do. The other is a great book I have already read that
We had our first major driving challenge the other day. We were trying to navigate through a medium sized village and to make a long story short, the road that would have put us back in business was fenced off, the only way out was to reverse direction by pulling into a social clubs parking lot, backing out. But.. the socialites that were trying to get into the club wouldn't back up for us, forcing us to pull into the parking lot, forcing us to turn around in the lot and forcing us to knock the scaffolding erected next to the club off its base. I was not completely composed as disdainful Scots watched me flounder in the lot. We made it out, gave our name, number and E-mail to the irate club worker and will never hear from them again. If they call we head for the border! There was no damage to the truck or scaffold.
I am going to try and send this on the Iphone- if I can pull that off I can send more frequent E-mails.
Arberlour
Charging Batteries
Parked- Arberlour Gardens Caravan Park
We are staying in a caravan park for two nights. (stayed for 3) I have to admit is the most relaxing part of the trip, no limit to electricity, no finding a place to spend the night. These are the weekends, and a chance to finish E-mails.
We left off in the Markinch train station. We spent last night in a "Tesco" parking lot in Aberdeen. Tesco is just like Walmart, we get most of our food and fuel from them. Open 24 hours but not quite as friendly as Walmart is to the RV'er. Still it is a nice place to spend the night.
Life would be perfect if the UK had 60Hz power! Our only challenge is keeping the battery levels up. We will pull into a caravan park tomorrow to dump and fill. I bought a second battery charger to see if we can charge the batteries in the two days we will spend (for my B-day) in the park. Two 20A chargers take 2 days to charge what steady sun will top up in 4 hours. We seem to do very well going 7 days between fill ups (water, fuel) Living with tight limits on utilities is good for us. heating the RV is my joy- I fire up the boiler twice a day just long enough to heat the bath, and that is our warmth for the day, and two hot baths for me. If I leave the boiler on I could cook myself. I will do a few jobs while we are stopped, run a second wire from the alternator to the batteries, install an AC outlet for Shannon
Despite all the long hours, effort and damage to my body and checkbook, I am really glad we built our own RV rather than try and buy one. We are just now gaining confidence that everything actually does work, and when there is a noise or sound, not thinking that something has gone wrong. When you buy a factory model of anything you buy confidence that it works and has been tested again and again, custom built items, like boats or RVs, always come with problems. I have read of the nightmares suffered by custom boat owners when they first pick up their boats, some sailing them across the ocean while they find these problems. It would be very scary. Many builders will make the first voyage with the new owner to work out the bugs- that's what I'm doing. Plus I have to admit we thrive on the pride we feel as a family when people gawk at it. We give lots of tours. I joke that when Shannon flies out to USNA we turn her room into an exit door, so the tours can come in one way and exit at the end of the official tour route.
The last few days have been spent visiting ancestral haunts and the golf mecca of the world. We intended to drive from Markinch to Dundee with a one night stop in St Andrews. It took us two days to get to St Andrews, and we spent two nights there, so we are again a bit behind schedule. After Markinch we stopped at the village of Falkland and it was so spectacular that we spent the day there, and slept parked in the town of Cupar "Cooper" We have found that if we drive at first light we have plenty of places to park, as was the case in St Andrews. We found a spot so good that we spent two nights. The second night we went to an talk at the local library given by a local Scottish Olympian, Donald MacGregor (marathon.) We bought his book. He was a much better runner than writer. Next came Dundee where my Paternal Grandfather came from. I found records of the family burial spot purchased in 1871 by Alexander Cuthbert, and he was buried there in 1879. Then comes 14 others buried in the same two plots. When I found the grave, there is no mention of the guy who bought it at all, though I assume his bones are crowded down in there with the rest of them. The last person crammed into that space was my Great grandfathers sister buried there in 1971. No record at all of Great Grandpa Charles the marine Engineer.
Dundee was great, but a bit depressing. We only spent one night there but really did a lot. We parked at and visited the Polar exploration ship "Discovery" Great museum. We are learning much about polar exploration
I took a long walk around the city and visited addresses of ancestors. There was only one address that still had the original house, 25 Scott Street, named after the Polar Explorer, Robert Scott, Captain of the Discovery. I'm sure the apartments were considered nice in 1888, but they are run down today. I think it has always been mostly slum, demonstrated very well by a museum we went to "Verdant Works" It was an old Jute factory, jute, a form of canvas was the main export of Dundee in the 19th century. Dundee jute canvas was used on Conestoga wagons out west. The living conditions were horrible and I think the factory we were in may be the one the Cuthberts worked for- the street they lived on was part of the attached slum. Its great for the children to see those harsh conditions - makes them appreciate what they have. And they do.
Reading aloud from two books "Finding Sanctuary, Monastic Steps for everyday Life" and "How the Scotts Invented the Modern World." We have been to so many monastery ruins that it is interesting to read about why they exist, we know they were for Monks, but why do Monks do what they do. The other is a great book I have already read that
We had our first major driving challenge the other day. We were trying to navigate through a medium sized village and to make a long story short, the road that would have put us back in business was fenced off, the only way out was to reverse direction by pulling into a social clubs parking lot, backing out. But.. the socialites that were trying to get into the club wouldn't back up for us, forcing us to pull into the parking lot, forcing us to turn around in the lot and forcing us to knock the scaffolding erected next to the club off its base. I was not completely composed as disdainful Scots watched me flounder in the lot. We made it out, gave our name, number and E-mail to the irate club worker and will never hear from them again. If they call we head for the border! There was no damage to the truck or scaffold.
I am going to try and send this on the Iphone- if I can pull that off I can send more frequent E-mails.
18 November 2010
Chill/Travel
Parked- Alongside the road
Chill/Travel
Parked- Alongside the road
19 November 2010
Urquhart Castle/Eilean Doone Castle
Parked- Roadside, Isle of Skye
Urquhart Castle/Eilean Doone Castle
Parked- Roadside, Isle of Skye
20 November
Change of plans, heading North again
Western Ross/Portree
Parked-Pull-out, Loch Dugaill
We should be heading south, but for various reasons we are once again headed north, but just for one more day. We had decided not to tour the Western Ross (Northwest Coast) because we had intended to stay off one lane roads and that is all this coast has, but after driving on a few that were not marked we realize they aren't bad at all. I actually prefer them, the pace is much slower, no one is in a hurry, there are plenty of places to pass and everyone seems to be much more mellow. The roads are almost big enough to be two lane, but its just not guaranteed. They are definitely big enough to accommodate logging trucks, so we are good. We had read and heard so much about the Western Ross that we just couldn't pass it by. Shachagra is perfect for this type travel, slow, absolutely no people, and with all the comforts of home. We plan to drive to Inverewe Gardens, 45 miles north, visit, turn around and head south again. It'll cost us two extra days and about $150 more in fuel, but when we will be here again with this truck?. We really do need to get going south. Once we hit Glasgow, in about 4 days, we will do some short visits and just head directly to Dover, stopping only at Canterbury, and get on to France.
Right now we are next to Loch Dughaill. This is the prettiest spot we have stopped at yet. The two pictures were taken at the same time, one after the other, just 180 degrees apart. We spent the evening in front of a fire by the Loch.
I went out this morning to try a relight, but the coals were spent, and it was freezing out, so I am heating the tub for a more civilized means to get warm.
I can tell the temperature of the tub by the clicking of the fuel pump to the boiler. I haven't gotten around to installing the thermostat that I bought, and don't think I ever will.
We had an exciting day yesterday. We stopped at a small fishing town called Portree, and from the parking lot we were able to get Internet. We took turns on the computer while the others wandered. We were able to download the latest episodes of both Glee and the Office. Life is complete for the family.
Change of plans, heading North again
Western Ross/Portree
Parked-Pull-out, Loch Dugaill
We should be heading south, but for various reasons we are once again headed north, but just for one more day. We had decided not to tour the Western Ross (Northwest Coast) because we had intended to stay off one lane roads and that is all this coast has, but after driving on a few that were not marked we realize they aren't bad at all. I actually prefer them, the pace is much slower, no one is in a hurry, there are plenty of places to pass and everyone seems to be much more mellow. The roads are almost big enough to be two lane, but its just not guaranteed. They are definitely big enough to accommodate logging trucks, so we are good. We had read and heard so much about the Western Ross that we just couldn't pass it by. Shachagra is perfect for this type travel, slow, absolutely no people, and with all the comforts of home. We plan to drive to Inverewe Gardens, 45 miles north, visit, turn around and head south again. It'll cost us two extra days and about $150 more in fuel, but when we will be here again with this truck?. We really do need to get going south. Once we hit Glasgow, in about 4 days, we will do some short visits and just head directly to Dover, stopping only at Canterbury, and get on to France.
Right now we are next to Loch Dughaill. This is the prettiest spot we have stopped at yet. The two pictures were taken at the same time, one after the other, just 180 degrees apart. We spent the evening in front of a fire by the Loch.
I went out this morning to try a relight, but the coals were spent, and it was freezing out, so I am heating the tub for a more civilized means to get warm.
I can tell the temperature of the tub by the clicking of the fuel pump to the boiler. I haven't gotten around to installing the thermostat that I bought, and don't think I ever will.
We had an exciting day yesterday. We stopped at a small fishing town called Portree, and from the parking lot we were able to get Internet. We took turns on the computer while the others wandered. We were able to download the latest episodes of both Glee and the Office. Life is complete for the family.
21 November 2010
Northern Ross, We finally head South
Gairloch, Poolewe, Inverewe Gardens, turn south
Parked alongside Loch Maree
Northern Ross, We finally head South
Gairloch, Poolewe, Inverewe Gardens, turn south
Parked alongside Loch Maree
22 November 2010
Chill Day in Caravan park
Parked- Invercoe Caravan Park
Chill Day in Caravan park
Parked- Invercoe Caravan Park
23 November
Travel to Sterling Castle
Parked- Sterling Castle
Travel to Sterling Castle
Parked- Sterling Castle
24 November
Sterling Castle, Falkirk, Scotland
Parked- Falkirk Wheel
Today, traveling from Stirling Castle to Falkirk Wheel, we drove on highway for the first time in near three weeks, it is really nice. We spent the last 3 weeks in Northern Scotland, in the country. The last week in the Scottish Highlands was amazing, if it weren't for the winter setting in I think we may have dragged out our time up there. Parking alongside a loch, lighting a campfire on the shore of a beach, it was hard to leave. I had thoughts of filling the fuel tanks, parking next to a Loch, dropping our water intake hose into the crystal clear loch and just staying put. But the cold kept us moving. Everyday the family goes for a run and that is the event that drives us south. They get nice hot showers when they return, but why freeze when we can move the house south. We are driving through so much history, every field has a story of massacre or triumph and every castle has a story of a ghost or atrocity. The most beautiful spot in the world is the small town of Inverewe, we spent the night there in a caravan park. I would try and describe it, but I'll just send a picture. We had the greatest view in the world right out our rear windows. I took the Vespa for a ride (my form of running) and explored a turn of the century mansion turned sanatorium turned abandoned building high on the hill above our park that had the second best view in the world, second only because the view from below included the old building in it. The trip goes well, we are seeing much, as you can tell by the pictures, and everyone is getting along. I find I have to get motivated to use my time well, I would just muck around all day, but that may be the point. I actually feel the "weight of responsibility" more than I have in the past, which may seem odd as I was in command of a squadron, but the Navy was always there to take care of us, and I had people that did the work, I was an overpaid cheerleader. With this trip we don't move unless I get up front and drive. In the Navy our worries were very specialized. Now, if there is a problem with with the RV it's my responsibility, if there is a real problem, it isn't because the Navy didn't get me supplies or train my folks correctly. But I do love the freedom and the challenge, the trip would be less exciting without it. I find going on a package tour to similar to watching a TV show. You're an observer. This trip plans change as we research and learn. I also get to wrestle with problems, example, the fireplace onboard. It is very hard to light and keep running. I contacted the company and found the fix. I was so intent on the fix that when I lit the fire I didn't turn on the circulation fan that I had installed on the ceiling above the fire- and as the fire was blazing as never before, the fan melted and caught fire! Charles calmly tells me that the fan is on fire and heads for the fire extinguisher. Within seconds we had 3 extinguishers aimed and ready. I tossed it out the door and saved the flooding and cleanup, but it was nice to know the fire drills we did payed off. Before we left we sacrificed one extinguisher so all the children could practice. We only have 9 left on board. The fireplace is fixed, perfectly adjusted and I type by its warmth right now. We spent yesterday at Stirling Castle, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Great views and history. The highlight was a nobleman's house, Argyll's lodging, reputed to be the best 17th century nobles house in Scotland. You were able to sit on the furnishings and mess about more than any other place we have been as they used reproductions instead of museum pieces, which we like. They also had a tapestry shop making huge reproductions for the reconstructions they are undergoing. The work they are doing is controversial because of its authenticity. People like to see old castles that look like old castle, raw stone, dark and antiquated, with weather oak beams and woodwork. At Stirling, they are restoring things to their original, often garish, look, bright paints and tapestries on the walls. The medieval sense of style doesn't work today. Again the children learned more yesterday than a week in school. I think we all finally have the roles of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace finally figured out. You hear about them quite a bit in these parts, and they are both very real and led lives fairly close to the movie Braveheart, more so than I originally thought. It's Mel Gibson's major historical speculation in the name of a good love story that puts historians off. Not me, I love a good story, but I don't think the love child of William Wallace and Princess Isabella went on to rule the country as King Edward III, despite how hot the little princess was. If you like the movie, and I do, its interesting that, Isabella actually did get her revenge, just like she told the dying Edward "Longshanks" in the film. She deposed of and had her husband killed. Poor guy, vilified by Mel Gibson just because he was born better suited to be the Royal decorator than the king. Her son (William's??) turned the tables by locking her away and having her lover executed once he became king. Life is so unpredictable when you live with the reality of absolute power. Finished the day, and spent the night at the famous Falkirk Wheel. This is the spot of Scotland's great defeat by the English, a source of shame. I think they've tried to change the connotation of Falkirk by building one of the most amazing engineering feats in the world. Brilliant. I've seen photos and it did not let me down. It was our engineering lecture for the day. Too hard to describe, I'll add a picture. There are two huge tubs of water, large enough to hold many boats, on either end of a huge wheel that will rotate the tubs while keeping them upright. Boats enter at both the top and bottom, then the wheel turns 180 degrees, and they exit , both top and bottom, but a hundred or so vertical feet away from where they started out. Amazing thing is that since the wheel is always exactly balanced (Archimedes says so) it requires just enough power to overcome friction to move thousands of tons of weight. The lock uses under $15 of electricity everyday to operate. I'm betting they use more power at night to light the thing up than they do to operate it. In the picture, if you look closely past the wheel you can see another amazing engineering feat, the RV.
Sterling Castle, Falkirk, Scotland
Parked- Falkirk Wheel
Today, traveling from Stirling Castle to Falkirk Wheel, we drove on highway for the first time in near three weeks, it is really nice. We spent the last 3 weeks in Northern Scotland, in the country. The last week in the Scottish Highlands was amazing, if it weren't for the winter setting in I think we may have dragged out our time up there. Parking alongside a loch, lighting a campfire on the shore of a beach, it was hard to leave. I had thoughts of filling the fuel tanks, parking next to a Loch, dropping our water intake hose into the crystal clear loch and just staying put. But the cold kept us moving. Everyday the family goes for a run and that is the event that drives us south. They get nice hot showers when they return, but why freeze when we can move the house south. We are driving through so much history, every field has a story of massacre or triumph and every castle has a story of a ghost or atrocity. The most beautiful spot in the world is the small town of Inverewe, we spent the night there in a caravan park. I would try and describe it, but I'll just send a picture. We had the greatest view in the world right out our rear windows. I took the Vespa for a ride (my form of running) and explored a turn of the century mansion turned sanatorium turned abandoned building high on the hill above our park that had the second best view in the world, second only because the view from below included the old building in it. The trip goes well, we are seeing much, as you can tell by the pictures, and everyone is getting along. I find I have to get motivated to use my time well, I would just muck around all day, but that may be the point. I actually feel the "weight of responsibility" more than I have in the past, which may seem odd as I was in command of a squadron, but the Navy was always there to take care of us, and I had people that did the work, I was an overpaid cheerleader. With this trip we don't move unless I get up front and drive. In the Navy our worries were very specialized. Now, if there is a problem with with the RV it's my responsibility, if there is a real problem, it isn't because the Navy didn't get me supplies or train my folks correctly. But I do love the freedom and the challenge, the trip would be less exciting without it. I find going on a package tour to similar to watching a TV show. You're an observer. This trip plans change as we research and learn. I also get to wrestle with problems, example, the fireplace onboard. It is very hard to light and keep running. I contacted the company and found the fix. I was so intent on the fix that when I lit the fire I didn't turn on the circulation fan that I had installed on the ceiling above the fire- and as the fire was blazing as never before, the fan melted and caught fire! Charles calmly tells me that the fan is on fire and heads for the fire extinguisher. Within seconds we had 3 extinguishers aimed and ready. I tossed it out the door and saved the flooding and cleanup, but it was nice to know the fire drills we did payed off. Before we left we sacrificed one extinguisher so all the children could practice. We only have 9 left on board. The fireplace is fixed, perfectly adjusted and I type by its warmth right now. We spent yesterday at Stirling Castle, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Great views and history. The highlight was a nobleman's house, Argyll's lodging, reputed to be the best 17th century nobles house in Scotland. You were able to sit on the furnishings and mess about more than any other place we have been as they used reproductions instead of museum pieces, which we like. They also had a tapestry shop making huge reproductions for the reconstructions they are undergoing. The work they are doing is controversial because of its authenticity. People like to see old castles that look like old castle, raw stone, dark and antiquated, with weather oak beams and woodwork. At Stirling, they are restoring things to their original, often garish, look, bright paints and tapestries on the walls. The medieval sense of style doesn't work today. Again the children learned more yesterday than a week in school. I think we all finally have the roles of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace finally figured out. You hear about them quite a bit in these parts, and they are both very real and led lives fairly close to the movie Braveheart, more so than I originally thought. It's Mel Gibson's major historical speculation in the name of a good love story that puts historians off. Not me, I love a good story, but I don't think the love child of William Wallace and Princess Isabella went on to rule the country as King Edward III, despite how hot the little princess was. If you like the movie, and I do, its interesting that, Isabella actually did get her revenge, just like she told the dying Edward "Longshanks" in the film. She deposed of and had her husband killed. Poor guy, vilified by Mel Gibson just because he was born better suited to be the Royal decorator than the king. Her son (William's??) turned the tables by locking her away and having her lover executed once he became king. Life is so unpredictable when you live with the reality of absolute power. Finished the day, and spent the night at the famous Falkirk Wheel. This is the spot of Scotland's great defeat by the English, a source of shame. I think they've tried to change the connotation of Falkirk by building one of the most amazing engineering feats in the world. Brilliant. I've seen photos and it did not let me down. It was our engineering lecture for the day. Too hard to describe, I'll add a picture. There are two huge tubs of water, large enough to hold many boats, on either end of a huge wheel that will rotate the tubs while keeping them upright. Boats enter at both the top and bottom, then the wheel turns 180 degrees, and they exit , both top and bottom, but a hundred or so vertical feet away from where they started out. Amazing thing is that since the wheel is always exactly balanced (Archimedes says so) it requires just enough power to overcome friction to move thousands of tons of weight. The lock uses under $15 of electricity everyday to operate. I'm betting they use more power at night to light the thing up than they do to operate it. In the picture, if you look closely past the wheel you can see another amazing engineering feat, the RV.
25 November 2010
Last Full Day in Scotland
Last Full Day in Scotland
26 November 2010
Crossing Back into England
Crossing Back into England
27 November 2010
28 November 2010