Sun August 5 - Edinburgh to Glasgow via Stirling

Big day - saw lots!

We set our alarms early packed up, had some bagels and got on the road.  Bye Edinburgh!  We both really liked the city and could see ourselves living there.

On the road and first stop was the Kelpies statue.  They are over 30m high and weigh in at 300 tonnes each.  They are a monument to horse powered heritage across Scotland.  Made with structural steel and outfitted with stainless steel cladding.  They were very impressive and bonus was we were there before the crowds so got unencumbered pictures!

They are both semi-floating

Look really hard - I'm in this picture!

From there we hopped over to see the Falkirk Wheel.  Opened in 2002, 2 diametrically opposed water filled caissons, each with a capacity of 250,000 L are fitted at each end to connect one channel with another.  Each gondola can hold up to 4 - 20m long canal boats.  It takes 22.5 kW to power 10 hydraulic motors which consume 1.5 kW - hours per half turn - for those not technically inclined that's roughly the same amount of energy to boil 8 kettles of water.  It was just doing a rotation as we drove up.  It takes roughly 6 mins for the bottom gondola to reach the top.

From there we were off to the Bridge of Allen Highland Games.  So excited for this.  We arrived just as it was starting and we saw highland dancing, bagpiping, shot put and more.  It was in a giant field.  Oh and for the guys in my office that are bike enthusiasts - HAHAHAHAHAHA Scottish men bike on GRASS!!!!!  With no brakes!  Don't think I'll ever see biking the same again.

Girls highland dancing

One of 40 different bagpipe bands competing.  This one was our favorite.  The guy in the middle with the big drum was really into it bouncing with the music.

From the games we headed over to the William Wallace monument. Build 145 years ago, this tower is dedicated to William Wallace.  It has 246 steps to the top.  Below you can see on the side of the tower a decorative attachment to the side - that's where the steps are.  When you scroll down the pictures you'll see Kels descending them.  They were small, narrow and spiraled.  There are 3 Chambers as you make your way up - The Hall of Arms, The Hall of Heros and the Royal Chamber.  Each tells some part of the history of not only William Wallace himself but the political era and people around him during his rise and fall.  The very top (the Crown Spire) has a 360 degree view of all around.

Stain glass depiction of William Wallace

This 3D model was created by a man that was inspired after he visited the monument.  He had never build models before.  He was a Canadian.

The Bridge of Allen Highland Games viewed from the top of the monument.

Looking up from the viewing level of the Crown Spire are these beautiful connecting archways.

When you met people coming up you flattened yourself on the right.

Comparison to other famous statutes

Beautiful carved wood of the monument on the path leading down.  Oh hey look and it's king kongs lesser known cousin...me

The Scottish thistle

From the the monument we headed to Stirling Castle.  King James V had the royal quarters in this castle built as a testament to his kingdom and a gift for his second wife however he died before he could ever really live in it.  However his daughter - Mary Queen of Scots - grew up here.  Stirling Castle was of very great importance "both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was, until the 1890s, the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times."  We wandered the castle and grounds extensively until it closed.

Tapestry in the Queen's Antechamber - quite a famous one.

This is King James himself.

Courtyard

One passage along the wall

View of the Wallace monument from Stirling's battlements

This sheer cliff was on 3 of the 4 sides.

James's royal crest on the ceiling in his bed chamber.

Throne in his antechamber

Replica of the castle.  It covers quite a bit of ground.

The Queens gardens.  They smelled heavenly in full bloom.  As you can see quite a few people were laying on the grass in the late afternoon.

It was a very long day full of lots to see and do.  We ate on the fair grounds for lunch and had McDonalds for dinner.  Not very exciting I'm afraid.  We made it to Glasgow and are looking forward to a nice restful night.

Up tomorrow - Glengoyne Distillery tour & Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium!