It’s Sunday, early – for us! – and a quiet morning – no one waking us up today!
Another boat pulled in last night to share the mooring with us, so it looks like the “locals” also still treat this as a 4hr mooring – even though the signs are not there anymore.. But, it’s time to move on – even though we have a tank of water, we need to run a few washes between here and the next water point – so that we don’t need to run it over the next week, as were going to be stationary at Fobney for over a week – and the tank of water we have must last through next weekend.. So it’ through the lift bridge, which as it’s a Sunday is happy to open at 8:30 in the morning.. Monday to Friday.. it won’t let you due to the traffic on the A340..
Down Padworth Lock..
We noticed the other boat that shared the water point last night was also coming this way.. so decided at the next swing bridge to wait for them.
It took a little while but the boat appeared around the corner.. “OK C.. Open the bridge, we will go through pull up and leave it open for them – once they are through, close it again”.
Celeste got 2 feet from the controls, when a lady on a bike rolled up, pulled out a key, put it in and started to open the bridge.. Telling CC to get back on the boat – which she could not do as I already set off and pulled away from the bridge landing.
So I went through the bridge.. 2 boats were coming the other way.. perfect timing I though. Pulled onto the bridge landing the other side and picked up CC.. at which point the boat behind was beeping their horn.. as she had decided to close the bridge on them. After realising – re-opened it again for the other three boats to get through!
It later transpired that – as we assumed – she was NOT with the boat behind, just someone cycling down the road who decided we were stuck and stopped to help us without asking if we even needed it..
Ah well.. sharing a few locks later it’s onto Tyle Mill, down the lock and swing bridge combination and onto the water point. At this point we said goodbye to our “lock buddies” who continued on whilst we stopped to top the tank of again to replace the water the water the washer took. Once complete.. onward..
Through Sheffield swing bridge and Lock – no such issues today!
And onto Garston Lock – the second of the peat sided locks.. waiting for a boat to come up..
once there up and out.. we can go in..
Now.. Southcote lock.. the one we have been waiting to be fixed.. All the CRT gear is loaded and waiting to be taken away..
and the lock gate and wall that was repaired is looking good.
.. but a little leakage is expected, and to be honest.. an old gate on a new hinge leaking a little like that is pretty good to be honest!
And that is the last lock of the day.. onto the mooring – which is shallow and we cant get close to the bank.. so 6″ away and grounded out will have to do.
Until after the bank holiday.. were staying here 😉