Falkirk Wheel

Went to see the Falkirk Wheel. What you've never heard of it? Don't worry, we hadn't either but it was worth seeing. Appparently was a millenium project to replace about 6 locks.

We watched one boat go through the process, first it comes through a long tunnel.

The boat then goes into a tank and gets lowered to the next level. It's amazing that they've fixed up all these canals because they were all abandoned in the 50's and 60's, after they were no longer needed, but have now been reinstated for leisure purposes. So many people use them; apart from the obvious canal boats, there are also lots of cyclists and walkers using the towpaths that run beside them.

We biked up to see the Antonine Wall, I was excited that we were so close to it - I couldn't understand why there isn't the publicity about it that there is about Hadrian's Wall. Now I do, this is it! Was originally an earth wall apparently so hasn't stood up to the ravages of time like that other one! Served a similar purpose though, and at a much narrower part of the country. Drove up the tourist route (following the coast) via St Andrews to Scone (pronounced Scoon), near Perth. Stayed in a camping ground in the grounds of Scone Palace, right next to a racecourse, could hear all the excitement over the fence. Luckily they finished about the time we went to bed, thought we could have been in for a long night!

Next day had the big decision of whether to see Scone Palace or Glamis Castle, both in the area, and both looked good. Scone Palace is where Macbeth was crowned, but Glamis Castle was where Shakespeare set the story. Also Glamis Castle was the Queen Mother's childhood home, and is in the Braes of Angus, so that won in the end. We were really blown away by this one. It is still the family home of the 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne; Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon. Apparently Bowes-Lyon was the Queen Mothers maiden name, in case you're as ignorant as myself - believe it or not, Gus knew this!

Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos inside but it was amazing. We had a guided tour, probably to make sure we didn't nick the family silver, and what family silver!! About 15 in our group. Part of the castle is really old, like 1376! Part of it is quite new, Victorian era... that's new in this part of the world. The paintings on the ceiling of the little chapel were beautiful; the settings and ceiling in the dining room were over-the-top but gorgeous; and the tapestries around the walls and the beds were amazing. Some of them date back to the 16th century and still survive in amazing condition. There is one over the bed the Queen Mother used when she stayed, that was done by her mother, with the names and birth years of all ten of her children. Elizabeth was the second youngest, but she married well!!

Drove on up through Caingorms National Park. Parts of it are like the desert road, parts like theMckenzie Country in the South Island. There was quite a bit of snow in the highest parts, supposed to be almost summer, the equivalent of November, feels more like July!

Stayed the night near Aberdeen, with some lovely people we met in Hong Kong, they made the mistake of inviting us over a glass of wine, even wrote down their address so I suppose they meant it at the time! They were extremely welcoming, she had prepared a salmon dinner - lovely. They are from the Shetland Islands originally so he brought out a dvd on the islands, now feel like we've been there too! We've given them all our family's and friends' addresses so they'll be over soon to stay... (joke, don't worry), but they were very hospitable so we've told them if they or any of their family are in NZ, they must come and stay with us.

Today, after a large breakfast, we drove through the high country again to Inverness. On the way there was more snow, even some falling out of the sky!! There are skifields right beside the road.

We stopped in at the site of the Battle of Culloden, if you don't know about this I would suggest you read Diana Gabaldon's book, Cross Stitch, still a librarian at heart :). Basically it was the last battle fought on British soil; between the Jacobites (mostly highlanders) and the English Government forces, over who should be king. Anyway it was a very bloody battle; and a massacre of innocent bystanders, along with Jacobite men, followed. They've got a really good visitor centre there complete with actors explaining parts of the story. We also had a guided visit of the whole site. They have flags marking where the two sides stood at the start, and headstones marking where the mass graves are. A very moving place, even though it all happened so long ago, and I don't think all the shivers running up my spine were from the cold wind.