Gamebird goes pioneering - yet again!

BW  told us  that the mercury had been removed from the bed of the Union canal in Falkirk and although this opened up a few more miles to navigation, there had been a landslip just east of the tunnel (at Bridge 59)  which meant that this bit of canal had to be dewatered. Still, working on the principle that if there is canal to be boated on, that is what we should do, we decided to go on a voyage of discovery. Even if we only  got to Bridge 59, this would mean that we had boated on a  bit of canal which had been closed to us for about 40 years.

We set off early from our moorings at Ratho and hoped that the east wind which was making things a bit chilly would be left behind us but no luck, we had it all day - it just got stronger as the day progressed. Still, it was dry.

We cruised west through Broxburn, Winchburgh, Philpstoun (where we were due to take part in a canal clean up the next day) and Linlithgow. All familiar territory for us. Continuing west, we crossed the Avon aqueduct (second biggest in the UK), past the transhipment basin and soon came to bridge 52A. This had been the limit of our navigation on  two previous occasions  as there had been a large earth bund across the canal. Even to get this far had been quite a struggle as we had to negotiate the remains of an earth bund which lay just below the surface at bridge 51. Still Gamebird has a shallow draft, as has Tangram, who accompanied us here two years ago.

Passing below Bridge 52A we entered a stretch of canal which had not seen any boats (apart from dredgers) for a long time . In places the ground on both sides of the canal  was very flat, quite unlike anything anywhere else on the canal. We passed through the outskirts of Falkirk where there are many lay-bys which would make excellent mooring places. These old wharves presumably served the  factories which had been along side the canal in that area many years ago. As we approached bridge 59, we slowed down in preparation for turning but there were no stop planks in place and the canal beyond was in water! Too good an opportunity to miss so we pressed on, cautiously. We saw a couple of BW chappies on the tow path and they said we could go on, if we wished. Of course we wished!

We went under the Laughin' , Greetin' Bridge (no 61 - see explanation of the name,  below the photos)  and entered the tunnel. This was the first time we had used Gamebird's tunnel light for it's intended purpose! I can't describe the feeling of being able to boat through the tunnel for the first time. Pure magic! The tunnel is used regularly by the Seagull Trust who have a base nearby and who give disabled people boat trips, but we were probably the first private boat to go through it for a very long time. We cruised on and as we approached the new bit of canal which leads to the staircase and Wheel, I phoned BW to see if we could go down the locks and round the Wheel. I got the expected response of "no" but it was worth a try! We crossed a new aqueduct and proceeded to a new bridge and the staircase locks where we moored for a bit. This is a very exposed bit of canal and it is going to be fun mooring boats at the landing stage while waiting for the locks. Especially as the non tow path side has the non boat friendly netting just waiting to catch the unwary prop.

The water was a bit choppy here and both locks in the staircase were full. That paddle gear doesn't look any safer and I continue to raise the subject  with BW at every opportunity.

We about turned and set off west again, with a great feeling of achievement. Our next trip through here will not be till  we come to meet the Queen at the end of May

Here are some photos of our trip.

The Laughnin', Greetin' bridge is so called because it has carved faces on each side. On the side looking east, there is a happy (laughin')  face as the contractor who made that bit of canal had a comparatively easy job and presumably made lots of money. The poor contractor who made the bit of canal to  the west had a much harder job as he had to make a tunnel out of solid rock as the local landowner would not allow him to put the canal within sight of his house (Callendar House). This side of bridge 61 therefore has  a sad (greetin') face.

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