19th March 2009
BW thought that there was water back at Blake's Lock (the guide was known to be wrong in giving a water point at County Lock). As we had not see a tap when we came up, we checked with the Environment Agency, who run Blake's Lock, who said that the nearest water point was two locks down from Kennet Mouth or five locks up. In fact, when Christine checked with a local boatyard in Reading several also supply water.
A local water bailiff stopped to chat and thought that the lady who lives at Southcot Mill, alongside the lock which is closed, would be helpful and let us fill up. It was worth a try and the guide said that there was a winding point below the lock. It was only a short distance but when we arrived the first issue was that the sign said 50ft max in the winding point! (Not mentioned in the guide) We moored below the lock to see if the lady from the house might return (no-one was in) and had lunch. No sign of anyone (except the postman) so we opted for our new plan: to return to Reading, find water, moor for the night and decide what to do thereafter.
With a little difficulty, and help from a passing walker, we did manage to turn the boat around although the strong flow in the river made it rather tricky. Exiting from the next lock was even harder with the strong weir stream more difficult to manage than when coming upstream.
As expected, the journey downstream was very fast, not easy to control the boat on tight bends and by the time we arrived at County Lock it was positively exciting! The traffic-light controlled section flashed past - downstream there is very little control unlike upstream where is a balance between the force of the on-coming river and the boat engine. Downstream, the only control is left or right: sometimes!
We decided to take the day easily, planning to walk back to the retail park. However, we received a call from BW to tell us that the sunken boat will not now be raised until next Friday - 27th - and so we would not be able to go beyond the next lock. Our main problem was water, having not filled up for almost four days. We were passed on the the local supervisor who gave us some explanation of what had happened. A local hire boat had been left with a tap running, it seems, over the weekend and sank right across the channel. Walkers told us that it could just be seen poking out of the water!
BW thought that there was water back at Blake's Lock (the guide was known to be wrong in giving a water point at County Lock). As we had not see a tap when we came up, we checked with the Environment Agency, who run Blake's Lock, who said that the nearest water point was two locks down from Kennet Mouth or five locks up. In fact, when Christine checked with a local boatyard in Reading several also supply water.
A local water bailiff stopped to chat and thought that the lady who lives at Southcot Mill, alongside the lock which is closed, would be helpful and let us fill up. It was worth a try and the guide said that there was a winding point below the lock. It was only a short distance but when we arrived the first issue was that the sign said 50ft max in the winding point! (Not mentioned in the guide) We moored below the lock to see if the lady from the house might return (no-one was in) and had lunch. No sign of anyone (except the postman) so we opted for our new plan: to return to Reading, find water, moor for the night and decide what to do thereafter.
With a little difficulty, and help from a passing walker, we did manage to turn the boat around although the strong flow in the river made it rather tricky. Exiting from the next lock was even harder with the strong weir stream more difficult to manage than when coming upstream.
As expected, the journey downstream was very fast, not easy to control the boat on tight bends and by the time we arrived at County Lock it was positively exciting! The traffic-light controlled section flashed past - downstream there is very little control unlike upstream where is a balance between the force of the on-coming river and the boat engine. Downstream, the only control is left or right: sometimes!
Eventually we made it out onto the comparative calm of the Thames and went a short distance upstream to a boatyard where we took on diesel, filled with water and emptied the toilet. Then we returned to the Tescos mooring for the night. Mike walked into Reading to buy some more varnish from Homebase.
During the evening we were called by Andrew who had decided to join us in the morning for the weekend - it was a good train route from Pewsey to Reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment