Falkirk Wheel 10 Celebrations - 4th - 8th July

[SPR]

After the good turn out at the Stirling Trip, I have manage to get free transit and launching on the Canal for any RIB's that want to attend Wheel 10.

If interested let me know and i will arrange the free passes!

more info:

[here]

[9D280]

Planning info- there is a slip at Auchinstarry and 4 locks 'tween there & the wheel for those worried about toobs. Canal has 12' depth. 4mph (land miles) speed limit.

[SPR]

would be good for sibbers too, there is also slip at wheel for recovery!

[awr]

Hi Scott,sorry I can't make this one as we're away on hols(otherwise would be going) Alan.

[9D280]

I am actually likely to be free that weekend, so on the assumption its the most exercise my aux is going to get this year, do we have a vaguely detailed plan?

[9D280]

Anyone elase want to give their Aux some exercise?

I am planning on an Auchinstarry launch Sat morn (Times will be finalised when I phone the canal control bods to get locking times at Castlecary, but I'm estimating a 9-ish departure at the moment).

If anyone else fancies a day trip From Auchinstarry to the wheel, it would make sense to all travel in convoy so the lock keepers only need to come out once.

Let me know soon!

[9D280]

OK, You won't be surprised to hear the canal is bonkers on Saturday, and the control bods can only be at so many lockas at a time, so the journey is going to be to a tight-ish schedule to ensure there is someone to work the locks when needed:

The plan is to dep Auchinstarry around 9:45 with the aim of being at Lock 20 for 11am.

Will need to get on the move to get back by 14:45 in order to get to the locks in time to be let through.

If anyone does want to join in at the last minute, phone canal control to allow them to plan the locking - their number is on the Brituish waterways website.


Anyone got a ribnet burgeee I could borrow for the day?

[9D280]

Some pics of the day - part 1:

1) Our Locking companion had an encounter with a ton of weed somewhere between Kirkintrtilloch & Auchinstarry - had the weather been better it might have seemed a shorter 20 min wait! Lock 20, Glasgow side pontoon
2) having dug their dinghy engine out we carried on at a reasonable rate of knots (for a canal!) - Approaching lock 19, still throwing it down.....
3) The lifting bridge at Bonnybridge. - Rises vertically by 2.5m on hydraulic stilts. Rain calming down a bit now!
4) Ended up moored out on the far end of a pontoon, so there was no way I was going to get a pic of the rib and the wheel.

At this point I discovered I should have charged the camera!

[9D280]

Pics of the day - Part 2:

Having managed to warm the camera up (left it in my inside pocket!) I managed a couple of pics on the way home:

1) Lock 18 as the sluice was opened.
2) M80 bridge at Castlecary. By this time the rain had stopped! Must get an OS map for the plotter


Unfortunately this was the pic that totally killed the camera battery, so I can't give you the closing view of the "wake shot" with a premix engine running at slightly faster than tickover for 7.5 hrs.....

Navigation wise - a couple of 12m ropes would be perfect for the locks - I used a 10 (slightly too short on lock 18) and a 20m (too long everywhere!) Having said that 6m would be Ok as the British Waterways guys can unhook the top for you when at the bottom of the lock.

As for the party - plenty to see & do. Loads for the kids. Only down side was the live bands meant that you had to be at the other side of the "pond" to be able to have a half sensible conversation. Other than that & the p!ss!ng rain - a good wee event.

Huge thanks to the BW guys for the locking etc.
Anyone doing anything in July 2022?