Day 38: Luss - Linlithgow

We slept like a log, with the constant hum of the road in the background. It may seem strange to you, but it relaxes me, like a river of cars that never stops. We woke up at almost ten, with the rain caressing the camper. We didn't feel like doing much, so we spent the morning inside, warm and peaceful.

At noon it stopped raining and we decided to start. We drove for a good hour and a half and stopped at a car park next to the road - but somewhat secluded - to eat. While we devoured lunch, the sky was clearing, as if Scotland was giving us permission to explore.

Around four o'clock we continued towards Falkirk, passing through Stirling beforehand. From the road you can see an enormous castle and green hills that make you want to get out and explore, but we left it for another day with more time. Our destination was the famous Falkirk Wheel.

For those of you who don't know it: the Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift, unique in the world. It connects two canals with a height difference of 24 meters. Instead of using locks like yesterday, this invention raises and lowers boats in a structure that looks like it's straight out of a sci-fi movie. We parked in the car park (supposedly paid, four pounds), but the system didn't recognise our foreign number plate, and the employee told us that if the barrier was open when we entered, we could leave without paying. Perfect!

We strolled around the area, took a lot of photos from all angles. Although the visitor centre was already closed and the theme park below looked half-deserted, we loved it. We went up the path to the upper canal, where the boats enter the floating Ferris wheel, and passed through a stone tunnel, which is also part of the canal. It's impressive to think that whole boats navigate through that tunnel, as if nothing.

Before leaving, we took the opportunity to fill the water tank in a service area for motorhomes. Technically, that's only for those who stay overnight there (it costs 18 pounds), but we only filled up with water... and no one said a word.

From there we went straight to The Kelpies, which are very close. We parked (this time paying: 2.50 pounds), and went to meet these two steel giants. They are two horse heads, 30 meters high, one looking straight ahead and the other slightly inclined. I'll tell you the mythological gossip: the kelpies are magical creatures of Scottish folklore, water spirits that take the form of horses to deceive people and drag them to the lakes. But these sculptures also pay homage to the draft horses that used to tow barges along the Scottish canals. So they mix legend and reality. Majestic, impressive, photogenic... and with no intention of drowning anyone!

After our artistic and mythological moment, we went back to the car. We drove around a couple of times looking for a quiet place to sleep. But in one of those, daddy Edu got distracted and kept driving on the right. You know: if the asphalt says MO7S, you're seeing SLOW backwards, and that only happens if you're in the wrong lane. A good reminder that we're still in the UK.

We finally found a quiet car park next to the Union Canal, where long, narrow boats and some kayaks pass by. The place is flat, quiet and without midges. So here we are. The afternoon is falling, it smells of dinner and rest... and I'm already ready to dream of mythological horses and wheels that turn boats.