different sort of boat, different country

[donnygeoff]

Well it all started, really started, about eight months ago.
 
SWMBO said she wanted to "DO THE WHEEL"
 
I thought my luck was REALY in, until she explained it was the FALKIRK WHEEL on the Forth and Clyde & Union canals, not page 253 of the Karma Sutra.
 
So I looked around the tinterweb and booked Debbie from Marine Cruisers for the Easter week.
 
Debbie, is a 52' narrow boat, (not the blonde from behind the bar in my local)

Here she is



We picked her up from Marine Cruisers right next to the wheel on Sat 4th April.

When I looked at her, I really thought, "How the hell am I going to do this" a 2 1/2 foot wide canal, with a 52 foot boat.

After we had unloaded the car, and filled the boat with our Rain Coats, Woolly Jumpers, Extra thick socks etc (It is Scotland)
it was time for the trial run.

The guy from the yard showed me around Debbie, you know , the usual, here is the cooker, her is the fridge etc
and asked me if I had been on a narrow boat before.
I answered to the best of my knowledge and said NO.

Half way through him telling me that a boat steers from the back and not like a car, I told him that I had done a few years on "The Broads"

So we set off on the trial

Well, the Boat Yard, is just the canal bank, the Wheel is 30 yards to a lift bridge, turn left into the lock and into the "pool" where the wheel is.

I set off, under the bridge, managed to steer Debbie round the left hander and into the lock, the trial run bloke then said
" Normally we would spend a little time in the pool, learning the handling, but I will get off now. See you next week"

All I could think of was, if West can do it, then so can I

Into the WHEEL, and it begins

Moored next to one of the trip boats on the way up....



view from the back


looking forward


we are moving


view from back


don't look down


At the top, 8 mins later, and a lot better than 12 locks.


It was now time to head off, over the viaduct and through the first tunnel.

The first hour on board and we had done a lift bridge, a lock, The Wheel, a viaduct and a tunnel.....

Scotland here we come....

[BroadScot]

Hi Geoff,

 

Great start to your Holiday tale, not sure about the heavy woolly socks though, never gets that cold up here!  

 

I should add the Ochil Hills can been seen well from above on pic number 7

 

Iain.

[deebee29]

Great start

Must have been pretty daunting to have to face the wheel, viaduct and tunnel after just a very short trial run.

But as you say "if West can do it" !!

Looking forward to hearing how you got on

[donnygeoff]

As it was about 3pm I decided on a short cruise to our overnight destination of Bridge 49......

 

When I left the lock to get into the wheel, as it was my first time on a narrow boat, I decided to take it very steady, a little too steady I think.

 

A trip boat was already in the wheel waiting for me.

 

The wind was blowing a little and as I left the lock, it blew me to the left of the pool, the trip skipper waved at me to moor to the right of him

(I don't know how he thought I could moor to the left as he was tied to the side)

 

I put a little more power on and crabbed towards the wheel, when the nose was just about in line with the gap, I put a little more power on, pushed the rudder hard over, and the back end swung around, straighten the rudder in to reverse a little in to neutral and DEBBIE slid in without touching trip boat or side. ( I was well chuffed)

 

As we went to tie up to the side, the trip boat crew took the ropes and tied around their cleats, very nice of them.

 

While we were rotating in the wheel the skipper and I chatted, when I told him it was my first time he congratulated me on getting into the wheel, but gave me some advice.

 

if you look at this pic, to the front of the boat you will see the TV aerial and a narrow gap just before the tunnel. This gap is called "THE SQUEEZE" if your boat doesn't fit through it, you can't go on the canal, the squeeze is the same size as the narrowest bridge on the canal.

 

 

His advice was.....

You go first out of the wheel, when you crossed the pool, the wind took you right, up here it is stronger, leave the wheel with more power, don't be afraid and don't slow down, keep it straight and let off power when you are through.

 

So I did as I was told, I was a little apprehensive, but pointed the nose at the gap and went.....

 

I went through, eased off the power and headed for the two large locks at the start of the Union Canal.

 

After the locks comes the Falkirk Tunnel, 620M long, another first a long tunnel done and ticked off.

 

3 hours later we were moored at Bridge 49 in on a floating pontoon in a little "harbour" for the night.

Here is a pic of the entrance

 

 

As you can see, this pic is dated Fri 10th April, I took all of the photos on my phone, and it decided to delete all of the Falkirk tunnel, the two large locks and the Saturday mooring, I will try and get them from my daughters phone and add them later, I knew my phone did this so with Wifi on board I emailed pics to myself, but forgot to do the Falkirk tunnel, the two large locks and the Saturday mooring.

 

We had an excellent meal in The Bridge 49 Bistro and retired early for the night

 

It had been a long day.... but very enjoyable...

 

[ranworthbreeze]

Hi Geoff,

The advice given to you regarding leaving the wheel was also given to me even though I have over 40years experience on Narrow Boats. I hope you called in the Four Mary's at Linlithgow, and kept up the tradition of having a sample of all of the hand drawn brews (I think there were 5 on when we were there)before buying your pint.

I am looking forward to your journey on the Scottish Canals.

Regards

Alan

[BroadScot]

Hi Alan,

 

Sounds like the Four Marys has cut back then with hand pull brews if only five. McLays of Alloa use to supply a fair number of the guest real ales there. The annual beer festival at the back of the pub used to be a very good HIC! night out!

 

Soz Geoff,  I digressed....I shall await your next update.

 

Iain

[donnygeoff]

Hi Geoff,

The advice given to you regarding leaving the wheel was also given to me even though I have over 40years experience on Narrow Boats. I hope you called in the Four Mary's at Linlithgow, and kept up the tradition of having a sample of all of the hand drawn brews (I think there were 5 on when we were there)before buying your pint.

I am looking forward to your journey on the Scottish Canals.

Regards

Alan

Hi Alan,

Our trip into Linlithgow will be up shortly. And the story of me sampling at The Bridge Inn, Ratho......

 

 

[donnygeoff]

BRIDGE 49....

 

All  (most) of the bridges on the canal are numbered the first bridge from the Wheel is bridge 63.... Edinburgh is bridge 1, (then the lift bridge into Edinburgh Quay, I said most had a number)

When I asked the trial guy why this was he replied with a grin.....

 

So you can tell the boatyard where you are when you break down..........

 

The eatery at Bridge 49 is the BRIDGE 49 BISTRO & BAR...(They think of original names up north)

 

Now, being a Yorkie bloke, I like things nice and simple..... walk into pub, order drinks, sit down, look at menu and go to bar to order.....

 

This was different.... walked through door, young girl came straight up to us and asked how many for the table, I said depends on the food, she said here's a table the foods good.

I didn't want to cause a scene so I sat down.

She asked what we wanted to drink, 1/2 larger for Mrs DG, coke for Miss DG, soda water for nanan DG......

Now Mr DG (that's me) asked what draught beer they had....

The young girl replied  " ****&^%^£  !£$%&()(   ^&*(( and Carling"

So as not to upset her I thought for a moment and said I would have a pint of Carling

(where is Mr Broad Scott when you need him)

 

We ordered the food, Mrs DG and Nanan DG had Thai green chicken curry (or something like that) Me and Miss DG had steak and ale pie.

 

Now, the young girl said the food was good.....SHE LIED

 

It was blerdy marvellous

 

Another round of drinks to wash it down

 

Asked for the bill, cos that's what you do in posh places..........  £65......yes 65 quid.... I left a tip

 

here is the BRIDGE 49 BISTRO taken from BRIDGE 49 (what a surprise)

[BroadScot]

Geoff said....

 

 

(where is Mr Broad Scott when you need him)
 

IF I had been over at my sister in laws, and was STILL allowed to drink it would have been the "Four Marys"! lol I have heard of this place, Bridge49 ( a good year 1949 was!) but not frequented it....yet! But we will, glad the food was good, sorry no Black Sheep or other such Yorkshire concoctions available for your pallet..

 

 

Iain

[donnygeoff]

sorry no Black Sheep or other such Yorkshire concoctions available for your pallet..

 

 

Iain

That is why I could have done with your services Iain,

I couldn't understand her .

For all I know she could have said "Black Sheep, John Smiths, Ghost Ship and Carling"

The only word I understood was Carling so had one of those...

[BroadScot]

Hi Geoff,

 

If you read back on a thread somewhere, I did warn you about the central belt accent Geoff. Its really is a one off especially if they come from Falkirk! My mate lives there now, but he is a "weegie" like my wife, a Glaswegian which like me is a westie accent. I can fully understand though why you hadn't a clue what she was saying!

 

 

Iain

[JawsOrca]

Sounds like you are having a good trip Geoff! 

 

I can barely understand anyone north of colchester.. When I meet up with you Iain (and anyone else too far north).. You will have to talk really really slowly or even bring your mobile and we can chat via the forum lol

[BroadScot]

Hi Alan,

 

Gimme a few minutes till I get my ear tuned to Narfolk, and I will speek with an Norfolk accent if you like boy!  Makes mental note, bring reams of A4 paper and a Pen! Just incase!

 

 

Iain