Messing around in boats.

A barge on the Union Canal at Ratho, where my father in law and stepmum in law live. Built between 1818 and 1822 to a design by Hugh Baird, the canal connected to the Forth and Clyde canal at Falkirk allowing the passage of goods (mainly coal) between the cities. The original Edinburgh terminus was at Port Hamilton, today the route has been curtailed at Lochrin Basin near Fountainbridge. Interestingly, Burke and Hare the notorious muderers worked on the canal's construction when they came to Scotland from Ireland; before other schemes took over their time... Due to unbeatable competition from the railway, commercial traffic ceased in the 1930s and the canal was eventually closed in the early 1960s. Sadly it fell into dereliction and the link with the Forth and Clyde severed, until a project to mark the Millenium of 2000 renovated the route. At Falkirk, the 'Falkirk Wheel' was built to re-join the two canals. Today it is used by pleasure craft and the tow path makes a pleasant walking/cycling route. A former colleague of mine actually ended up in the canal whilst cycling along the path on his way to work, when he had to swerve suddenly to avoid a pedestrian!