That’s torn it!

What an eventful day.  We started above Newbury Lock and finished moored beside the towpath at Froud’s Lane.  The first challenge was the transit from Newbury Lock through the town centre.  The canal and river combine in this section which is also quite narrow.  Jan was able to climb aboard at the base of the lock and experience the ride through town.  There are no photos of the first 40 yards because we were so busy!  When we were satisfied Waiouru was under control Jan took a photo behind us and one to the front

Looking back

Swept along by the current

We have to be honest and say that if we’d been on a hire boat instead of Waiouru we’d probably have been less stressed by the passage!

Bye Newbury……

Things went well until we reached Ham Lock where on exiting I managed to tear the cratch cover on the gate! <sob>

This is the same side that previously had the zip damaged.  The material is now held in place with Duct Tape and we’ll have to get it repaired when the weather is better.  There’s no point in leaving the cratch open to the rain!  We also lost a fender which was snapped off on leaving the lock.  A decision has now been made to cruise with the fenders up.  There was another discussion whether to open both gates in the wide locks.  We’ve decided to stay with opening only one gate and see what happens!  We’ve always known that the area below the gunwale and the rubbing strakes will have to be repainted annually.

At Monkey Marsh Lock (one of two turf sided locks) there was a ‘towpath helper’ who happily assisted Jan with the lock gates.

Jan was both horrified and amused to see the way this hirer had moored their boat and went back to take a photo.

Yes….. mooring ropes across the towpath and tied to trees.  Fortunately they were only moored briefly whilst they had lunch.

We had a late lunch on the 48 hour moorings above Woolhampton Lock and made the decision to go down the lock and through the swing-bridge instead of staying on the moorings for the night.  Rain was forecast and the river had already risen.  The plan was to empty the lock and I would ‘hover’ in it whilst Jan went forward and opened the bridge.  She would then call me forward using our two-way radios.  After I passed through the lock I would swing the tiller over and attempt to lasso a mooring bollard so she could re-board.  If that didn’t work Jan would have to walk all the way to Aldermaston.

Waiouru was travelling quite sedately until she it the current and then we went on an exciting ride. Using just enough rev’s to maintain steerage worked until I needed to get the stern to starboard on the approach to the bridge.

Into the bridge hole and I frantically had to get the tiller arm to port.

Once clear of the bridge Waiouru had to be thrown hard into reverse whilst simultaneous attempting to throw a lasso over a bollard.  It actually worked and Jan managed to re-board.  It’s so nice when a plan works!

We’re now moored below Frouds Lane.  The sat-dome can’t find the ‘dot in the sky’ because there’s a tree in the way.  However it’s not a problem because there is a terrestrial signal.  The pram cover is up, bubble stove is going and Jan has had a nice hot shower.  Fired up the laptop to find County Lock is closed and there are restricted hours to get through a damaged Fobney Lock.   However with the forecast rain we are not planning to head towards the Thames in the next couple of days

Dinner is on the stove and I’m about to have a cold lager.  A satisfying day!