The trip through the locks was fun. Because it was a weekend, we were stalked by various groups of ramblers, who always seemed to decide to stop for a snack or lunch just as we were coming into a lock. In fact we had an audience of one kind or another at every one of the six locks. The first one is next to the local pub we frequent when we are up at the basin and the two sisters who run it came out as the boat was coming through. Much jovial banter ensued, with many comments about Phil steering while leaving me to operate all the locks. In fact that arrangement works really well, as I get some much needed exercise and Phil handles the boat really well.
At the next lock, as we brought the boat into the pound, a rambler asked us 'What are you going to do now, you can't go any further can you?' I looked at her closely to see if she was joking, but no, she was deadly serious. I patiently explained to her how locks worked and that we would be on our way as soon as the water level had risen and we had opened the lock gates at the top end. They then all stood and watched us filling the lock, or rather they peered into the interior of the boat as she started to rise, commenting on our interior decor and furnishings which I thought was a tad rude, but seemingly normal rules don't apply on the tow path and everyone, (apart from the boat owners themselves) seems to think it is perfectly acceptable to be so nosey!
At the last lock another group of ramblers decided to 'help' us. One very confident gentleman was explaining to his wife how the locks worked. He had partially shut the gates after Phil had sailed in. It is never necessary to close the lower gates completely because the force of the water coming in at the top will bang them shut. I have now been through so many locks that I actually do know this fact! However when I started to move towards one of the gates, he slowly and carefully explained this fact to me. I ignored him and continued to approach the gate at which he said condescendingly 'You really don't need to do anything love, I've closed the gates as far as they need to go'. I hate being called 'love'! I didn't say a word, but very deliberately operated the handle which closes the paddles, which are the openings at the bottom of the gates which let the water out. As I walked past him I quietly said, 'Thank you for the advice, but if I hadn't have closed the paddles which you left open, it would have drained the canal'. The look his wife gave him was a delight to see!! Clever clogs turned a rather unusual shade of puce and marched off down the tow path, rather quickly I thought for a weekend rambler!!
We had planned to go north at the weekend, but the weather was forecast for more rain, so we abandoned it. We had a short walk in the Lake District and just about managed to stay dry.
Yesterday I cleaned the boat and did some paper work, so was feeling quite virtuous, if a little frustrated as it was impossible to go out with the rain almost monsoon like in its ferocity.
We have decided to just go with the weather and have tried to plan our days around it. Cruising the boat is out of the question in the rain, it is just too miserable. We have seen many boaters going past dripping wet and looking fed up. So we decided to look elsewhere for our entertainment. Last week we booked a trip on the steam train which runs on the Settle to Carlise line.
It was great fun and tomorrow we intend to travel over to Yorkshire and take a picture of the train going over the famous Ribblehead viaduct.
We attended a meeting the other night to do with our Marina switching to residential status. This is a big step and affects most of the people who have a boat on the Marina. It is also likely to become a national initiative affecting most Marinas across the country, so I will dedicate my next blog to this subject as it is important information for anyone who is thinking of living on a boat in the future.
Watch this space ....
Al :)
