Too little water? Too much!

Sunday 4^th September; Slat Mill lock to Fenny Compton

We were slow getting ourselves moving this morning, so that before we had decided whether to reclaim our mooring pin or leave it with him, our neighbour had returned it and left.

We set off not too much later, and then, right in the middle of the canal, we ran aground.  We were on the big wide left-hand bend a couple of hundred yards above Slat Mill lock, and boats were moored along what is actually a wide section of the canal so there shouldn’t have been a problem.  We tried reversing off, no use, and a very short burst of the bow thruster churned up mud so we stopped that.   A canoeist got himself ashore and was joined by one of the boaters to help, calling to us to throw a rope.  Remembering my Girl Guide skills, I coiled the centre line and threw the rope (perfectly, I might add!) just as I learnt aged 11 and they hauled us off sideways.

The kayak hero paddling off again towards the lock

It was then we realised that the pound was nearly a foot down.  We were told later by a volunteer that a leak is being investigated.  We pulled in at the facilities block in Cropredy, and dealt with the rubbish but couldn’t get water.  Nothing wrong with the tap – our connector, which has been awkward to use for a while, just would not screw on!  The thread is partially stripped and it won’t grip.  Luckily we are not desperate for water.  We carried on through Cropredy, and up Broadmoor lock, where the damaged paddle stand has been replaced.

We had caught up our single-handed neighbour from last night, so helped him work through the locks.  The poor chap had injured his arm so was finding winding up some of the paddles a bit testing.  Past Clattercote farm we went, where there was still no-one to be seen, but the aquash and pumpkins have grown.

We decided not to stop yet for lunch as we wanted to get up Claydon locks today, and arrived in plenty of time.  Our single-hander was still on the move, so with Dave being worked up the bottom lock by the crew who had just come down (who were stopping for lunch) I went forward to help him. There was a lockie at the third lock, so I went back to help Dave up the second.  With the lockie working him up the third lock I walked round the bend where Mr Single was having a bit of trouble getting into the fourth, as water was coming over the top gates.  Thinking a boat must be coming down the top lock, I closed the nearside bottom gate and thought I’d better step across the gap as I didn’t want to get my feet wet – when I closed the offside gate it shut with a bang as the force of the water coming over the gates got stronger and stronger!  What on earth was going on??

That's not right

The boat was already rising in the lock and water was now flooding over the towpath so I ran up to the top lock as I thought some disaster must have happened – but no.  ‘I’m just running some water down’, says the lockie, nonchalant as you like.  I’m afraid I shouted at him that someone was actually in the next lock and water was flooding over the gate and all across the towpath.  He closed the paddles and went off down the flight, walking past the lock (through the flood) with not a word to the boater.  We never did open the top paddles as the lock filled all by itself.  I couldn't avoid getting wet feet though.

The paddles on the top lock were closed by now and still it is flooding

OK, the water was probably needed down below Cropredy lock, and no more boats would be allowed to start the flight today, but surely to God he should have checked that no-one was coming up?  Had he forgotten that boats would still be coming up the flight? Apart from the criminal waste of water (still barrelling down the bywash as well as all over the towpath), there had been a real risk of an accident so I reported it to CRT as an ‘incident’.  Luckily no-one was hurt but it was quite frightening.  I’ve not heard anything back though, not even an acknowledgement.

We completed the flight without further incident and stopped for a late lunch before continuing to Fenny Compton marina, which was closed as it’s Sunday.  We moored on the wharf, to be the first customers tomorrow morning. There is a somewhat confusing notice at the marina entrance.

Welcome - but don't come in!

After a cup of tea I walked up the road towards the village to post a letter.  There is a post-box near where the houses start, but it was further away than I remembered.  There is a plum tree just past the railway bridge, but with no footpath on this busy road I had to forgo the free fruit.  I passed what used to be an area of industrial units between the railway bridge and the village; it has now been razed and will be the location for a housing estate, ‘Compton Locks’.  A somewhat misleading name I fear, with a long walk to find any locks!  I’m not sure how realistic the illustration is either.

Will it really look like this?

We walked down to the pub for a beer – if we’d realised they were serving Sunday lunches till 7pm we would have eaten there too.  It’s very dog-friendly – Meg made such a fuss of one of the bar staff who walked by and spoke to her, that he came back with a handful of biscuits for her.

 6½ miles, 9 locks, Fenny Compton ‘tunnel’