Another early start today, saw us leaving Leighton Lock, aiming to get through Church Lock a few miles along before CRT close the lock for repairs for 2 days.
A chilly morning, so we lit the fire in the butty..... oh boy that was a mistake!
Coming into Grove Lock
The pub at Grove Lock looking beautiful as ever!
Because the Cheese Boat were on their own behind us, I planned to 'back set' the locks Richard and I passed through, by dropping the water and open the gates for them.
This involved a lot of unexpected exercise as I ran from Grove Lock to Church Lock after backsetting. Then I ran almost back to Grove Lock to see if the Cheeses were ok, but it was unnecessary when I saw the bow of the Cheese Boat coming around the bend. When I then ran back to Church Lock, Richard had my bike assembled ready for the next few locks ahead! That had to be easier!
I think this was Slapton Lock, could be wrong
52 miles back to Braunston....
Me operating the swingbridge at Pitstone Wharf. I cycled back to help the Cheeses up through the last of Seabrook Locks and then through the swingbridge also. Operation involves just pushing the bridge around to be level with the canal edge.
We met Kate and Heather on historic narrowboat Tench. This is their story Idle Women Journey ~ 75th Anniversary
Me cycling to the next lock
Approaching Marsworth Junction as the sun gets really intense!
Michael on the Cheese boat coming into the second lock of 7 on Marsworth flight
Richard brings our pair into the lock further on up the flight.
Unexpectedly, the butty got caught on the gate in the top lock and it took just over half an hour to wiggle her off the gate and detach her from the motor boat. We have reported the metal bracket on the gate to CRT as apparently it happens when boat come into the lock together. There is a lovely scratch along the bow of the butty now .....
Shortly after leaving the top lock, we and the Cheeses moored up on Tring summit and breathed a sigh of relief. The sun, volume of locks and exercise, we had all had, was not what we were used to and we knew we would have to do it all over again tomorrow....
Journey remaining to Rickmansworth ~ 18 miles and 38 locks!
No comments:
Post a Comment