Today for last-minute decision-makers...

Hey there,

This morning we had another beautiful sunrise. The Scottish weather frog has predicted overcast weather for today, with rain expected to start later. Yes, you read that right... I fired the weather fairy and hired a local weather frog instead. One must support local businesses after all!

Today we wandered off to breakfast without a direct plan and came up with a game plan over a good coffee.

First stop: the Kelpies in Falkirk

Google tells us it’s '1 hour and 6 minutes' away, so we shoulder our backpacks and hit the road.

On our way to the Kelpies, we spot the two beauties already, stretching their heads above the sound barrier of the motorway (M9). I read somewhere that this noise barrier was built only after the Kelpies settled in Falkirk. The accident risk on the motorway increased rapidly due to the unobstructed view of the two. So, a privacy screen was erected.

After Mr. Fü parked like a pro, we set off to admire the Kelpies up close. The Kelpies represent water spirits in horse form and stand 30 meters tall. They are made of stainless steel, and the inauguration of these impressive statues took place on April 21, 2014.

Kelpies inhabit flowing waters in the Highlands according to Scottish folklore and have a bad reputation in Scottish mythology, as they are depicted as dangerous, shape-shifting creatures that can appear on land in horse form and lure people into the water.

The Kelpies in Falkirk are the guardians of the narrow canal that separates the two and the accompanying small lock. At the same time, they pay tribute to the Scottish workhorses that pulled heavy carts, plows, barges, and coal ships, thus contributing to the success of Scottish industry.

And these sculptures are un-be-liev-able! Amazing..... Stunning... just WOW!

We truly admired them for a long time. I could hardly tear myself away, but Mr. Fü finally lured me back to the car, and we drove on.

Next stop: The Falkirk Wheel

Mrs. G subtly coughs: 15 minutes. Well, that should be doable :o)))

This gigantic steel wheel lifts entire ships skyward. The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift in the world, and, of course, it is also the largest. It bridges a height of 24 meters and replaces 11 locks... in just 4 minutes! And the ten hydraulic motors that power this engineering marvel consume only 1.5 kilowatt-hours per round. Incredible!

We were fortunate to witness this fantastic 'ship's giant wheel' in action. You stand there in awe of the brilliant mind that dreamed THIS up. (At least I was)

But after a while, it was time for the next stop.

Next stop: Blackness Castle

Googlerella announces somewhat stuffily: 31 minutes.

A castle shaped like a ship. It has the nickname: 'The ship that never sails'. The walls indeed have the shape of a ship's bow facing the water, and it widens toward the back with towers that resemble a command bridge. It was built around 1440 to guard the Firth of Forth and the harbor. Between 1537 and 1543, it was modernized and renovated, making it one of the most advanced fortresses of its time.

It is also a filming location for 'Outlander'.

When we arrived at the castle, there was an event (not sure what kind) taking place. 'Battles' were being reenacted, and several tents were set up. Therefore, there were more people at the castle than we had anticipated. No matter... we fought our way through :o))

When we got back to the hotel, it started to rain. The last photo of the day was taken in typical Scottish weather: sunshine with rain and fog :o))))

I hope you all had a lovely day with us as well.

Madainn mhath (Goodbye), see you tomorrow.