The Wheel

On the way to taking the two young ones to the airport, we diverted to see the Falkirk Wheel. Gordon has been here before, but it was new to the rest of us. We only had limited time, so felt we were very lucky to actually get to see the Wheel in action. I was a bit too close to it to get really good pictures, but it was great to watch the whole thing move slowly round, taking a boat from one level to the other.

 
The Wheel was built between 2000 and 2002 with the purpose of joining together the two canals that go from Edinburgh and Glasgow and from one coast to the other – the Union Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal. You can see the two canals here – one above the other. As the Wheel turns, you can see it beginning to turn here, it carries boats in large gondolas from one level to the other. Just amazing to watch. A fine piece of 21st Century engineering.