Yes, Davis, the pipes are loud. When I played them, people would walk (up to a mile) to ask me if I could play: "Far, Far Away"? I never did learn that one?
Ah, memories! As a Service brat, I often used to hear the pipes at military events. Funnily enough, whenever I started to whistle or sing as a kid, my Dad would also ask about Far Away. Never did learn the lyrics or tune!
Yes they are loud! But I love them. I am so happy that after 2 years of silence, on Wednesday nights the RCMP pipe and drum band practices again across the road...... 7 lanes, a parking lot and in the next parking lot. My sister shuts all the windows and I go out and weed the front garden. I was even married to a piper for a while. Not one ounce of Scottish blood in me.
Oh my goodness the Sinclair C5. I remember seeing them on the television whilst watching the evening news with my dad. (Well he was watching , I was just waiting for whatever was on afterwards) They said they would become the mode of transport for the busy London executive* 🤣 Ah the 80s, good times, good times. That said, I’m still waiting for the “Flying Car” and that hovering skateboard I was promised - we were ripped off, ripped off I say 🤣 🙂🐿🌈❤️ *and if you broke down, you could have it serviced by Hoover apparently 🤣 Some of the old print ads for the C5 are hilarious.
No matter how many times I see the Wheel it is truly difficult to believe it's real. Then again bagpipes tend to be a bit otherworldly themselves. Great episode!
David, thank you so much for sharing this historic rememberance with us on YT. 😊 *Wow ---That Falkirk wheel is an amazing feat of engineering!!!* 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Seagull Trust is an amazing charity! If one is wheelchair bound or are forced to use a walker device or crutches; getting from. point A to point B is a challenge; as is finding places with handicapped-accessible rest rooms The canal is beautiful! The scenery is gorgeous! That aqueduct is impressive! (Even the nicest cut stone aqueduct piers on what is remaining of the Old Erie Canal are very plain (as were the bridges from what I can see in old pictures). Metal lift bridges are the order on the modern Erie Canal where it passes either through or near a town.
The weight balance is interesting because empty each caisson holds the same weight of water, plus no matter how many boats or their weights, they displace the same weight of water as they weigh, so each caisson remains the same, so the balance remains the same. The results is the horse power needed is only enough to move the arms. A truly ingenious design and a beauty, too!
As I sit here in dry, brown, drought stressed California, I can only enviously drool while watching the so very green landscape, and so very wet canals, softly drift by as the Piper plays. *sigh*
We visited two years ago and boarded the tour boat for the quick trip. The boat master spoke with such a heavy brogue that my wife and I totally missed the whole narration but he was apparently hilarious and kept the other passengers entertained. Of course, he and the passengers knew we were the only non-UK’ers and Texans to boot, so we knew he had poured on the brogue to tease us. When the tour was over, as we disembarked, the boat master kiddingly asked me if I enjoyed the narration. I smiled and said “Absolutely. You know I have quite an ear for accents and your Russian accent is about accurate as I have ever heard.”
I love bagpipes. I live in the city, a friend lived a block away. A friend would come to visit and practice pipes (they would not let him practice in his apartment, funny thing). But I would love that I could easily hear him a block away. And amble over to hear him more clearly (and louder). And yes, they were used for all sorts of reasons because they could be heard at such a distance. But then again, I like them.
Eeee! I still think that from certain angles that looks like a scary SciFi creation come to life. I always love the bagpipes :D Another beautiful canal trip - holy cow - such lush greenery!!
to bad that so few of those that signed up for the flowtilla showed up, because the canal deserved the recognition -- good vid David be safe and see you on your next installment
Hi David, so thankful to see the canals and a tour along the Scottish Union Canal. What a real treat. Enjoy your journey, and these videos are appreciated and wonderul.
I think there are a few more advantages of the wheel design 1. Water loss would be negligible vs traditional lock 2. Can lift/ drop both directions at same time 3. Replaces several lifts ( would have required a series of traditional locks for height difference) Another great short documentary David, thank you so much for sharing it, and kudos to the trust for helping folks get out and enjoy an otherwise inaccessible outdoor activity in some beautiful country!
Braw piper. Great video, David. Good to see the Seagull Trust flying the flag. There's the "boaters own" flotilla of lights in November. Big bonfire by the Almond aquaduct on Friday, flotilla from Ratho into Edinburgh on the Saturday. That's usually much better supported and attended.
The Falkirk Wheel was designed and manufactured by Butterley Engineering who where based at Ripley, Derbyshire. Founded in 1790 they have been responsible for several prestigious engineering projects, the arch roof spans of St. Pancras station to name but one. Sadly, Butterley ceased trading several years ago, the site where the main works stood is now part derelict with a housing estate built over where the main offices stood. I served my apprenticeship with them in the late 70’s.
From a retired engineer this still amazing and catches my attention even tho I completely understand how it operates. Please keep doing these videos. Hope you get back in the boat soon miss you crusing and talking videos. Dang swans and ducks. Hahhahahaa thanks David making my day as always.
Loved the pipes. I’m a Yank but, for some reason, pipes bring tears to my eyes. The lift at the beginning is brilliant. If we ever come to visit the UK, I would love to see these boats.
The critics of the bagpipes should respect their origins in the era before electronic assists! They were the communication devices from mountaintop to mountaintop and a big improvement over smoke signals!
As someone who has to suffer the sound of the pipes for hours every single day, I wish they'd gone the way of smoke signals, tbh. They made this video very difficult to watch.
Another brilliant video with the extra bonus of a bagpipe blessing my ears while I’m watching it.I’m a very fortunate man to have come across this channel,indeed I am.
Edinboro University, in north western Pennsylvania, offers a tuition scholarship to individuals who play the bagpipes. Just a bit of trivia. As always, a great video!
The Trent-Severn waterway in Canada uses a number of devices to transport boats through the waterways. It is usually through a lock system. But there is one section where the boats have a high elevation like this. So they take a load of boats in a "railway car" style lock which then moves across a highway on rails to the other side where the boat(s) are lowered to the much lower level river section. Quite the sight to see in person.
Fabulous to see that Wheel in action And oh the Pipes, the pipes...😀😀 but no bagpipes emoji ha ha!! Loved the colourful escort of kayaks across the aquaduct Thanks for the fun Cheerio the noo!!!🤣🤣 Am so laughing at that!! Great vlog as always Quite cheered up my day that has!
Thanks David for bringing us along for the ride(s)! Wheel absolutely fascinating and countryside glorious, just what was needed after a longish day...j
Whel, yule take the highroad, David and I'll take the low. The idea of the Seagull, is a mighty fine one.- Like those unique e-pedalac Trikes from the '80's. May your dream come true. Thankyou for that whee bit of Scotland, David.
Thank you for a wonderful excursion on the canal. It was very soothing and rewarding to see. You have a very keen eye and the video you so produce is top notch. Please continue to show the world your escapade.
It's always amazing to be watching the progress of the boats and then, when it seems you are miles from anywhere, to see so many people walking the towpath. Thanks for highlighting this 200th anniversary of the Scottish Union Canal.
What a very attractive stretch of canal. And the Falkirk Wheel is an amazing construction isn’t it. A very pleasant trio (including the Vandemonium journey to Scotland) of videos. With pipes as a bonus too! Love them!
Ok, those little ducks were hilarious! Superb job as always David. You were my first 'Subscription' way back when I think you only had 40K. Looked like Scotland weather this time!
The two canals served by the Falkirk wheel were previously connected by a series of 11 locks used to navigate the 35-metre (115 ft) difference in height.
You managed to pass about two hundred metres from my flat in Polmont on the outskirts of Falkirk! If I'd known I'd have walked up to the Union and shouted a hello! I really hope you enjoyed your trip to oor wee toon, the UC is a stunning canal I absolutely love it. PS - the remains of a sperm whale, 30 metres above sea level, were once dug up not that far from where the Falkirk Wheel would one day be built. It got there either by a process called isostatic uplift or possibly by an ancient tsunami. I'm desperately trying to get more background information to push for a display to be created at the wheel - surprising examples of man made and natural uplift, nice symmetry.
Bagpipes are loud but only for the first couple of miles? Our band was practicing on Saturday in a park in Buffalo when a local walked over and asked if we could play "Far, Far Away"? Sadly we didn't know that tune.
Lovely to see. I was /am, a life member of LUCAS but have never had a chance to cruise on the canal. Just lots of cycling and commuting on the Edinburgh towpath section back in the 90s :) We supported the resurrection of the Union. A brilliant resource in so many ways. And thank you Robin Laing for the songs.
Ahhh... ' ..a cup of tea and a packet of custard creams..' sounds delicious. Can only offer Kaffee und 🍰 here .. greetings from Freiburg ( black forest)
I've always wanted a C5 too! :D With modern batteries, I think it would be pretty good along the trails, but the real reason I want it is, of course, the 80s futuristic looks.
I lived just up the road from The Butterley Company - on Outram Street, no less! - during the construction of the Falkirk Wheel, and heard about the project from a friend's son, who worked there at the time. Sad to say, The Butterley Company is no more, the site of the mighty engineering works wrangled over by the local authority and its current owner. Thankfully, there is now a Butterley Ironworks Trust, which was formed to secure the future of the small number of listed buildings on the site. Incidentally, the Cromford Canal runs directly under the old Butterley Ironworks, and incorporates a wharf complex at a depth of 30m, known as the Wide Hole.
