Well, what a day I have had! It started by my wanting to fill the boat with water but there was a boat between me and the water tap. My hose just wasn’t quite long enough so I had to exit my mooring without bumping the boat ahead which was easier said than done. Took me about 20 minutes of going back and fore (there was also a boat close behind me) and each time I pushed off at the front to get the boat out at an angle I couldn’t get to the stern quick enough to steer! R told me afterwards that I should have pushed off from the middle of the boat, https://we.tl/t-oKfYZNwHoC?src=dnlwhich did make alot of sense! I then had to get in front of the boat blocking me from the water but that was easier said than done as I almost straddled the canal! Eventually all was good and I hopped onto the towpath to pull the boat into the side and started filling up. I was awaiting the arrival of two guests who were coming to enjoy a day’s boating and help me with the 8 locks ahead. A CRT man was standing by the lock near to the watertap and I thought how lovely that he was there to help with the lock gates. How wrong was I! He was there to stop the lock being used. The next lock down was discovered to have a faulty paddle (hence why the lady I helped yesterday had found it impossible to open the gate) and so the pound had to be drained before the CRT could work out how to do the repair. It could take any time from half a day to a week! Meanwhile 5 or 6 boats were also wanting to go down the lock flight and there were quite a few disgruntled boaters. The situation was not helped by ‘health and safety’ regulations that delayed the repair being carried out. My friends F and AP had arrived all eager to learn about operating the locks and were disappointed to hear the news that we might not be able to go anywhere. We could not even turn in the nearby turning circle and go for a cruise in the opposite direction because our boat was longer than 50ft. We were well and truly stuck. Making the best of a bad job F went off to the Napton village stores, a cornucopia of delight and came back armed with many delicious goodies for a picnic lunch. We were blessed with warm calm weather so it was no hardship sitting on the canalside. It just wasn’t what was supposed to happen. I think I should be grateful this is the first time in six months that our plans have been totally thwarted. AP was very interested to see the damaged paddle and the extent of the problem. It was fascinating seeing the pound drained and it amazed me how shallow the water usually is. Eventually we got the all clear. It was about 5.30pm and we had been waiting 6 hours to move! AP and F were keen to do some locks and a kind boater, who was also in a hurry to get going because he was a policeman, due on duty tomorrow, taught them what to do as I stayed aboard helming the boat. We managed to complete about half the flight of locks before AP felt he should go home. At least he had some time on the water rather than just sitting beside the boat eating a picnic. Rather a long way to travel just for that!
What today taught me is that canal life is unpredictable and you can’t always achieve what you set out to do. Either you get frustrated and cross or you accept that what will be will be and you go with the flow. I was just relieved that the problem was sorted relatively quickly and am looking forward to completing the flight tomorrow.
NarrowboatTLC 