OK, The latest update from CRT is :
Well.. Sod that! If CRT trust their bodge to re-assemble the gate so much that you cant be on the boat when it goes through.. I’m not taking my home through it.
So – turning round was the best plan – direction is decided.. the boats ready and so are we, lets get moving. We have a lot of ground to cover today.
It was a simple run to the Marsworth locks – which is where the day started to get non-standard! After arriving at the top lock, the kids found that both the top and bottom paddles of the lock gates were open.. they closed the bottom set, allowed the open top set to fill the lock and got it ready.
Moved the boat in, opened the bottom gate to find a very low pound…
After just getting out of the gate.. a pair of CRT workers came back from lower down the flight. ” Well.. You just fucked that up then..” – Excuse me ? ” Were trying to let some water through to bring the pound levels back up further down the flight.”.. ” Well.. If you put a bloody sign out then, others may know what you are doing when you are not actually on site to inform them yourself. As were not all fitted with crystal balls.. its a little difficult to figure out why a moron would have opened all 4 paddles and then walked off and left it!”
Eventually, there was enough water in the pound so we could actually get to the next lock.. and out of the flight.
Past the Marsworth long time mooring spots..
And back through the junction..
Eventually (what with the rain!) we managed to get through most of the rest of the locks.. however: having a boat adrift and blocking the canal doesnt help!
Anna and Dawson set off to try to pull it back in and get the pins hammered back in again!
And finally we can get through.
It’s been a long, wet day and it’s time to call it. Were staying here for tonight.. which was not without incident.. but more on that later!
