The chicks have it

After our DIY breakfast at Aran House, we rejoined the towpath of the Union Canal to make for Falkirk. Along the way, mum got very excited, when she realised she could see the sea- yes, I know it was an estuary, and it was only a glimpse, but it made her happy so what can you say.

The weather has been perfect for walking, good cloud cover and a light breeze so not as hot as further south - dad has a new strategy with the shorts, he hides them!

Around about coffee time we came across a Tesco store and mum was despatched to see if she could purloin coffee and a bacon sandwich. The ladies in the cafeteria were very distressed because their machine had broken down. Mum explained the situation and before you could say John O Groats, the kettle was on, and coffee provided. They only had enough bacon for 1 sandwich so mum had sausage.  Many thanks to Linda for her donation and to her and her colleague for going beyond the line of duty.
Goodness it all tasted good.

Along the way we have met 2 couples and a single man doing JOGLE, including Neil and Tanya who started their journey in Cork and walked up through Ireland before crossing Scotland to JOG to start south - a trip that is going to be more than 1400 miles - wow!

We have seen no end of ducklings today, and a very special treat, a pair of swans with their 5 cygnets - delightful.

As we approached Falkirk we came to a tunnel. 620 metres long, it was built to maintain the canal on the same contour, because the local landlord did not want to be able to see the canal from his property! I saw a deer just across the canal and told mum who was able to get a snap of it.

Shortly after that we came to the Falkirk Wheel. Where the Union Canal joins the Forth and Clyde Canal, which is significantly lower than the Union. The wheel replaces a number of lochs to get boats from one to the other. It's a fascinating, yet simple theory, too complex to describe here - look it up.

There have been lots of people on the towpath today, including many cyclists. Cyclists, it you are reading this, please bear in mind that not everybody can hear you coming, specially if you don't ring your bell. Dad's been a bit grumpy today, and this hasn't helped the shining hour! Especially when he was asked where the Kelpies were, because apparently he looked as if he knew what he was doing. Don't ask me!?

His sense of humour returned shortly before we made base at Castlecary, when the Scottish cycling team approached us on the path. He said 'Yorkshire's that way' pointing in the opposite direction. They took it all on good heart. Thankfully!

Lennoxtown tomorrow

Keep spreading the word

M
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