This morning when Carol awoke and put the TV on to the forward view, she was in time to see the Forth bridges coming up as we steamed up the river.   We got up and had breakast while we docked at Rosyth.   This was once a stronghold of our Navy when it was a naval base, but now even the Trident subs are no longer based here.   In 1997 Babcock International bought it from the MoD, and they still service the Navy, but have expanded into other things.   We saw an episode of the BBC program "Coast" earlier this year, where they visited Rosyth and talked about timber imports, in the background you could see the Prinsendam docked on one of her earlier visits.   Here is a satellite image of the Forth estuary and Rosyth, and one of where the Prinsedam docked.   This is obviously an old image as if you look carefully you can see submarines to the left.

After breakfast we joined the excursion to visit the Falkirk Wheel and the Antoine Wall.   This is a combined coach, boat and foot trip, which we hope will give us some unique photographic opportunites.   Look at the wheel on Google if you want to see why.   You can zoom in three more steps on this link.   It is a sight to behold.   The wikipedia entry is also interesting, with a time lapse animation of the wheel in operatiion.

HAL's excursion description "The Falkirk Wheel is completely unique—there is simply nothing comparable anywhere in the world. Aficionados of elegant design must see this modern engineering feat. Travel first by motor coach along the Firth of Forth and over the Kincardine Bridge before reaching the old droving town of Falkirk. Then you’ll switch modes of transportation and take a canal boat journey from the basin outside the Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre. The Wheel is a massive structure that is literally able to lift boats more than 100 feet into the air—a stunningly simple-yet-intriguing alternative to the ancient system of locks and gates. Your boat maneuvers into the bottom gondola of the Wheel, which then makes a graceful sweep, lifting the boat up and depositing it on the Union Canal that is supported on columns 100 feet above. The ascent takes approximately 15 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views of the spectacular surrounding scenery. Once lifted, your boat sails smoothly from the Wheel straight onto the Union Canal and passes along the aqueduct, through the almost 600-foot Roughcastle Tunnel and under the historic Roman fortification of the Antonine Wall. The Antonine Wall was built around 143 BC and stretched from Bo’ness on the River Forth to Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde. Your guide will point out the well-preserved remains of a Roman military camp. Disembark the boat and take a short walk to the remains of Rough Castle—a fort that is the best preserved of the 19 castles constructed along the length of the Antoine Wall. Turf ramparts 20 feet thick on a stone base defended this fort and double ditches ran around the other three sides. In places, the wall itself still stands five feet high, and the ditches and ramparts are particularly well preserved. Over the causeway, across the Antonine ditch, lies a series of pits called lilia. These originally had a pointed stake at the bottom of each to serve as a trap for anyone attacking the fort. Your guide brings the history of the Roman occupation of Scotland to life as you explore the ruins before returning to the ship."

When we booked this excursion it had a "two persons" flag which means "Moderate Activity - requires intermittent effort throughout including walking medium distances over uneven surfaces and/or steps.".   When we got the day's program it had turned in to a "three persons" flag which means "Requires active participation, walking long distances over uneven and steep terrain or on steps.   In certain instances, paddling or other non-walking activity is required and guests must be able to participate without discomfort or difficulty breathing.".   We queried this with the excursions desk and it turned out that the coach trip to the wheel and the boat trip on the wheel are only a "one person" easy activty (which may include steps).   It is the optional walk to the Antoine Wall which is the strenuous bit.   You can however wait for the others to return and stay at the visitor's centre which gives a good oppportunity to see the wheel in action.   It is not so easy to appreciate the scale of what is going on when riding in the boat.   Unless you are in to remnants of Roman fortifications, then I would suggest staying at the wheel, have a coffee and sandwich and watch the next boat make the trip.   Certainly consider this if you are not fit.

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and glad we did it.   You do see some of the Antoine wall on the coach journey.   Our guide was good and gave an interesting commentary throughout the journey.

In the evening, with everyone on board we cast off and sailed away, with the opportunity to see the Forth bridges and photograph them.   We had a good view of Queensferry with Edinburgh behind it.   The Prinsendam uses Queensferry as well as Rosyth, which is possibly a little more convenient for the excursions into Edinburgh itself.   In the middle of the river there was a huge great cruiser that was too big to berth at either port and had to tender.   Tomorrow, at Scrabster it will be our turn to tender.   Further down we passed to Bass Rock and had good views of gannets from there fishing for their evening meals.

Captain Albert's Blog: Rosyth, for Edinburgh Scotland.