We awoke in good time and had breakfast – we don’t like starting on an empty stomach! We were untying at 8 am, wrapped up with gloves and hats as it was jolly cold. Dave went to set the bottom lock, which had new gates fitted in the winter stoppages.
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| The bottom lock doesn’t empty itself overnight now, but it still leaks |
I guess someone took advantage of the muddy towpath to have a little fun with the sign.
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| Made me smile anyway, even though the rain has washed most of it off |
We were pacing ourselves, as Dave’s got a bit of a dodgy knee and I’m trying to shake off the heavy cold that has laid me low for the last few days. So we were ecstatic to find Rob the volunteer emptying the third lock ready for us! He stayed with us till lock 58, before the long pound below the top lock, and it made a massive difference. I don’t recall seeing this ‘extra’ spindle affair on one of the ground paddles; you need the wider hole on the windlass for it.
I wonder when it was installed. Perfectly easy to use if you get the windlass position right. At about a third of the way up, Dave and I swapped roles. I was in need of a rest and as he was finding going up and down the ladders painful he was getting cold and bored!
After a while it started to drizzle, enough to need the waterproofs and to wonder if you should have worn waterproof trousers too. But it stopped after an hour or so.
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| Rob watches the levels as Dave goes to set the next lock |
I was finding getting into the locks without banging the sides quite challenging, as the bywash emerges below the bottom gates, but with no-one coming down and Dave and Rob busy locking ahead it was quite gentle. As we started the bend at the bottom of the reservoir I managed lock 49 with a bit of bumping, then decided Skipper Dave should take over again for the right on the bend.
The reservoir has filled at last.
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| Even the fishing platforms are flooded |
We met no other boats on the flight. With the various gate repairs that have happened, you can’t rely on most locks draining overnight any more and quite a lot had to be emptied, though with very little hanging about waiting because of the super-efficient teamwork. We waved goodbye to Rob at the old engine house and moored for lunch – well in time for it, in just 3 hr 35 minutes. Not a record but we were pretty pleased with it for two old crocks and only one volunteer on a rainy day. We had lunch and then thought, shall we just sit here in the shade, idling the afternoon away? No! So we set off again, up the top lock in a very strong cross-wind, into Tardebigge tunnel (dry) and out again into the sunshine. Between the two tunnels is a lengthy stretch of moored boats and an Anglo-Welsh hire base (most boats seemed to be in). Despite the continuing rain, the ground has dried enough to make it workable again – doubtless helped by the wind.
The bank slippage before Shortwood tunnel (quite wet) must have been considerable – I wonder how much mud they had to dredge out? There is no road access, so no wonder it took so long to even open the navigation. The towpath remains closed.
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| I’m guessing the pipe is part of the repair, or maybe just carrying water away during repairs. |
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| Pipe visible above the white rock? cloth? |
Along the way we saw several spots where a newish system to repair towpath collapse is being used.
We had hoped to change a gas bottle at the boatyard, but there wasn’t room on the wharf and it was far too windy to hover, so we went on. Moorings nearby and at the Crown pub were all full, but the one we like at the Crown Meadow Arm was empty.
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| A sad reflection on the centenary year of the Liddell and Abrahams Olympic gold medals |
As portrayed in the famous film Chariots of Fire (score by Vangelis), Harold Abrahams
(100m gold) ran to overcome antisemitic prejudice and Eric Liddell (400m
gold) for the glory of God. He is famous
for refusing to run on Sunday. Plenty of fascinating history on Wikipedia of course.
After a cuppa we got on with jobs – Dave refilled the stern gland thing and I cleaned through – how I regretted not having cleaned properly after the last trip! Dave discovered a small fuel leak and tightened some connectors – to be checked again tomorrow.
6½ miles, 30 locks, Tardebigge and Shortwood tunnels
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