Port Edgar Dragons Falkirk to Fountainbridge and back
a wee bit on the Union Canal
Submitted by Pauline Doyle.
After months of planning and permission requests, the date finally arrived when Port Edgar Dragons could move their small boat Emma to the Falkirk Wheel Basin in readiness for the challenge to paddle from The Falkirk Wheel to Fountainbridge and back to Bridge 8, a total of 35 miles or 56.3kms. Taking in the Falkirk wheel, the only rotating lift bridge in the world, two locks, two tunnels including the Falkirk Tunnel the longest canal tunnel in Scotland, built because the landowner objected to the canal spoiling his view, 3 aqueducts and under the Leamington Lift bridge, twice!
Day 1: moving Emma to Falkirk was straight forward with only two hiccups, one being some breaking and entering required as the gates to the road trailer were not unlocked. We did replace the broken padlock before we left. The second mishap being a car running into our now, fortunately, empty trailer which is now sitting awaiting repair. Thank goodness the boat was getting back using paddle power.
Day 2: dawned bright and sunny and we prepared to go up on the Falkirk wheel, dressing Emma to look her best for all the photographs. As paddlers this was an exciting moment as we were only the second dragon boat to go up on the wheel. We were beaten by a Dutch boat which had used the wheel not long after it opened. The views from the wheel were beautiful especially on a sunny day, though some stared straight ahead as a fear of heights was discovered. We then headed through a small tunnel and into the locks to be raised up the final 12m, the wheel having lifted us 24m, onto the Union Canal. Then we were paddling until we reached our overnight mooring beside houseboats with very welcoming hosts.
Day 3: again dawned warm and sunny, as we set of on the first of 7 legs. Except for the first leg we would welcome visitors from Aberdeen to Australia, to paddle with us for a leg of the journey. Many of these visitors had never paddled before but did well in the heat and may come back again. This was a day for enjoying the peace and serenity of the canal as well as the views from two of the aqueducts and making the most of the ice cream and drinks available at some of our stops. A long tiring day ended with an exhausted crew putting Emma away for the night in her own bed.
Day 4: was overcast with a breeze; it was too much in Scotland to hope for 3 days of fine weather. We split into two groups one setting off for the Canal festival at Fountainbridge to set up our stall and await the arrival of the boat. The second group stayed behind to wash and polish Emma before decorating her ready for the penultimate leg of the challenge. She arrived in the basin after going under the lift bridge to huge applause and accompanied by The Aye Notes, finally touching the end of the canal. Lots of hugs all around before a mad dash to the stall’s gazebo as the heavens opened, most would say we were lucky with the weather, but we still had the last few miles to paddle back to our home base at Bridge 8 Hub, so off we set in the rain still smiles on our faces. After a couple of miles, we had to stop and remove all our waterproof clothing as the sun had now come out and the wind had died down, we made it completing the full 35miles to the welcome cheers of our fellow paddlers. We put Emma to bed, washing her could wait, and sat in the sun eating chips and Scottish tablet and drinking fizzy juice, both alcoholic and not, proud of all we achieved.
