horse lattitudes

Bow down your strong heads to taste the water.

The Kelpies is the largest sculpture of horses in the world. Standing 30 meters high, the horses are located at the Helix complex in Falkirk, by canals that today are frequented by pleasure barges.

Andy Scott spent 7 years designing the horses, modeled on two Clydesdales. (Did you know Clydesdales were Scottish?) They were assembled by a handful of people in just 90 days.

 I picked up a rental car and went on a terrific tour led by Jim which included being able to go inside.

The sketches show the full concept: kelpies are mythical creatures that take the forms of horses. If you encounter them, your hand will be stuck to the horse, and they will drag you under water to drown you and then eat you.

 They're open air, and the 900+ pieces are welded to the structure.

Afterward I drove 200 miles north to Cromarty on the Black Isle. I should add I did this driving on the left, with a stick shift, through a million roundabouts and later on one-lane country roads. It was only occasionally terrifying.

My friend Lilly described this as being like Scotland used to be. It's an adorable town, with a collection of small cottages and big mansions.

 These oil rigs are assembled here. No one is drilling in the water north of Cromarty.

 We had another day of bright sunshine. This was around 9 pm.

The beaches have pink sand. There's poetry about Cleopatra on the obelisk. The hills reminded me of Point Reyes.

It's a charming area. The house on the left reminded me of Magritte. The whole town is in bloom, with tall poppies and just past their peak roses. Did I mention there's a cheese store? We'll be sure to stop by.

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Horse Latitudes

by Jim Morrison