The Trouble with Locking

me taking the boat down

leaving the lock

The Captain started the day with some maintenance in the engine pit. He mopped out the bilge and checked the engine mount bolts. Then he adjusted the stern gland and the alternator belt. When he was finally satisfied the engine deck was ship shape he prepared to cast off.

He stopped as a Viking Afloat boat appeared around the corner.

peaceful waters

“We’ll let them go,” he said. “The poor things were following us all day yesterday.”

He cast off and followed them under the bridge where they stopped to take on water. 

They caught us up as we left the first of 5 locks so ended up following us down a flight again.

Our mooring at Hanbury Wharf

restored bridge

We waited for a single handed boater to clear the third lock but when he closed the far paddle ready to open the gate the boat started sinking again.

As I reached the lock to help I tried the far paddles, one was stuck a couple of turns up.

“I didn’t do those,” the skipper said. The boaters going down closed them.” Once the paddle was freed the lock quickly equalised and the embarrassed man made his escape after warning us the next pound was very low.

Going to the lock landing to let the crew off

Having been warned the Captain went to set the next lock while I climbed up the ladder to open the gates and lower the paddles. By the time I eased the boat out of the lock the Captain was back to close up, but still moved swiftly enough to open the gates of the lock ahead. The boat felt as if it crossed a sand bar then it was fine but I stayed in the centre of the canal. 

looking down the Staircase lock

Although it was still hot, some cloud cover and a gentle breeze kept us from baking.

The only problem I had was the Captain left my long handled windlass behind at the next lock.

Lottie and I trekked back to retrieve it, leaving the Captain to work his way through the last lock alone. My walk was unnecessary, the Viking Afloat crew had picked it up for me.

prepare to duck...

...its a tight fit

After that we had an easy cruise down to  Hanbury wharf where we moored for lunch by the Droitwich Canal. The Viking Afloat turned through the bridge at the junction so from now on we will be following them.

After a long lunch we cast off and turned onto the Droitwich canal only to discover CRT Volunteers working the first flight of three deep locks. The locks were so deep they were filled first from the side ponds and afterwards topped up from the canal. It was lovely to have the work done for me, just a bottom gate to open.

church and houses in Droitwich

entering Droitwich

Before long we encountered the staircase lock so my lock-break was short lived. After another lock we entered the M 5 culvert. It was narrow as it was only designed to take the river not craft but the restorers of the canal used it to get under the motorway. It was low. I ducked down as the cabin roof only cleared the concrete roof by a couple of inches and tried to hold the tiller straight. the Captain squatted with Lottie but she didn’t seem to mind the tight squeeze.

and the lovely Vines Park

Life got tricky when we came to the barge lock in the middle of Droitwich. First the Captain overshot the landing stage and had to reverse. I opened the gates and swung the swing bridge which crossed the lock so our boat could get in. I closed the gates. They didn’t quite meet in the middle but I opened one paddle. The gates stayed open.

A hire boater coming up tried to help but it wouldn’t budge. the Captain told me to put the paddle down and tried to un-jam the underwater obstruction with his barge pole. It still wouldn’t close. The hire boat went aground while we tried to sort things out but the helmswoman managed to get clear by herself.

A cyclist wanted to know when the bridge would be back. On viewing our perplexed faces he rode off to find a different crossing.

The Captain went to the lower gate and leaned on it. It opened so the two pounds were the same level. We all felt daft but relieved at the same time.

our pontoon for the night

mural in the basin

I operated another swing bridge. I had trouble with the lock and when I finally pulled it free the bridge started to move just as someone stepped onto it. I held the bridge while they crossed then opened it for the boat.

This area in the middle of Droitwich has been turned into a beautiful park (Vines park) with the canal meandering through it, with three swing bridges joining the paths.

After passing the moored Viking Afloat boat, the Captain worked the last swing bridge and we entered the basin, our home for the night. After mooring on a pontoon we headed for the supermarket to replenish our dwindling supplies.  It was separated from Vines Park by a high fence but our trusty CRT key let us through the gate.

We had the first rain of the cruise at half eight just a few spots then it stopped. That is a first too!