Day 28 - Glasgow to Dunblane
Quick facts:
Weather forecast: cloudy H21 L 12. Winds SW 3 kph
Humidity: 91%
POP 7%
Departure: Warmshowers hosts in Glasgow
Destination: Longtime friends of Ralph in Dunblane
Planned distance: 52.4 mi 83.8 km
Planned ascent: 409 m 1,342 fr
Planned descent: 342 m 1,122 ft
Route: Photo of a Ride with GPS file
For actual metrics please see Ralph’s ride in the Strava section of the website
Good morning / Good day
We got up early, had breakfast and left our Warmshowers hosts as we headed to downtown Glasgow.
The city is definitely trying to get cyclists to use the parhs as evidenced by the large signs in both directions on this overpass:
Ralph hadn’t done the touring I had yesterday so today’s route gave him a chance to see some of the sites.
Squiggly Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians. I should look up its real name.
A beautiful vehicle bridge which will remain unnamed.
One end of the tunnel under the Clyde River. It is now The Rotunda and Cranside kitchen. There is a corresponding structure at the other side of the river where you came up.
Another view of the indoor arena OVO HYDRO. It is supposed to be beautifully lit at night and is a significant part of the Scottish Event Campus. It opened in 2013.
The SEC Armadillo for performing arts as seen from the OVO Hydro.
The Science Centre on the banks of the river.
As we were cycling along the Clyde River we met Elaine as we watched the Waverley paddle steamer. She talked about the fabulous trip she had on her and recommended that we come back and take an excursion. The paddle steamer is owned by a paddleship preservation society and maintained by volunteers. She really is a beautiful boat to watch (1946).
We weren’t the only ones using the paths this Sunday morning. A 10 km cancer run was starting at 11:00. It was probably a good tbing we were just ahead of them.
Ralph got to cycle past Kevingrove Museum and Art Galley to get a peak at the organ and a view of University of Glasgow then with some wiggling around side streets. we were on our way.
The path out of town Forth and Clyde Canal Pathway passed close to the Botanic Gardens I missed yesterday but we didn’t go in.
A mural along the Forth and Clyde canal
This is a « Smart Canal system » designed to control runoff by a series of weirs that controls the amount of water that drains into the Kelvin River system. Water is drained out of the canal to allow space for runoff during rainstorms. It is managed by the North Glasgow Integrated Water
Management System with investment in the past from the EU and Gov’t of Scotland.
This cycle path has a phenomenal bicycle overpass and intersection. I have never seen anything like it.
Scotland’s promotion and support of cycling is fantastic.
Ralph checking out a canal cafe
A lovely garden stretching along a wooded path was created by Andrew Muirhead who passed away in 2014.
His legacy is being carried on by neighbours Sandra and David. Sandra was out gardening as we passed along. She filled Ralph’s water bottles and donated to Haven House. Thank you Sandra.
Falkirk Wheel is actually not a wheel at all but it is much easier to just leave the name
as is! It is such a modern investment in this canal. It surprised me that there was such an economic demand that such a project was feasible. It opened in 2002 and is an integral part of the connection of the Union and Forth and Clyde canals connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Boat entering the lower chamber. A second boat has entered the top one but because the boat displaced water equal to its weight, it doesn’t matter if there is one or none in the opposite chamber.
One boat heading up… the other down in just a few minutes compated to 11 locks being entered which tool all day.
Almost there:
Cycle completed.
The canal path for the upper boats to enter the chamber.
The next boat coming through the tunnel to the Wheel. The skipper had better not be afraid of heights or ferris wheels!
Scotland seems to have many programs encouraging citizens to be conscious of their environment. Several displays were set up at the Falkirk Wheel to take advantage of the waiting tourists. I was so impressed with the efforts of this group that I want to pass their message on.
Give Slow a Go and Make Do and Mend
Restorative Food Sustems and the Circular Food Economy
What Would You Share? Sharing is Caring - tool lending library
32 %!of the carbon impact of Scotland is household waste.
Everything we buy has a Carbon Cost.
Want to see a Greener Scotland?
It’s costing us the planet.
1 KG of food waste ….
Climate change is right at your door.
Take action to consume responsibly
Textiles account for 32% of the carbon impact
of Scotland’s household waste.
Everything we buy has a carbon cost.
Roughcastle Tunnel - a fun ride through.
Out the other side, suddenly we were in flat agricultural plains again cycling beside large power line towers stomping across the landscape
The Wallace tower far in the distance high above the village of Stirling
Cambuskenneth Abbey has been destroyed and its stones used for other construction- as seems to be the fate of many Cathilic Abbys. We did visit the spot where parliament met after the battle of Bannockburn. Thisnwas where the future of the Stuart dynasty was born and King James III was buried. It wasn’t as simple as that. There were all sorts of battles, parliaments and Kings to come and go.
The abby was built by the King in 1140 and the canons were to pray for the king and his family and do public service in the community. They were the Medieval Civil Service.
There is a lot of history in this tower. It is speculated that when the abby was destroyed, the tower was kept as a strategic lookout. I see their point.
The abby was destroyed in 1560 during the Protestant Reformation.
The tower in Stirling which is the National Wallace Monument. It stands overlooking the land where the battle of Stirling Bridge took place and William Wallace became a National hero and martyr.
It was early evening when we arrived at the lovely home of Jayne and Michael in Dunblane . A hot shower, change of clothes and a lovely meal set the stage for catch up conversations and stories of recent adventures.
Thank you Jayne and Mike for being such welcoming hosts.
Safe travels.
Lorraine