Early start, late finish

I'd forgotten when I posted yesterday that there was a half day stoppage at Glascote Locks this morning, firstly to do a water flow meter calibration and then to unblock a paddle culvert.

Nonetheless we set off at half seven as planned and motored round to Peel's Wharf where we filled the water tank. I left Sheila overseeing that whilst I nipped round to post some letters and buy a paper in the middle of the village, if that's the right word for Fazeley.

Tank full(ish), Sheila steered round the junction and down to Fazeley Mill. It was the usual hassle getting reversed onto the service wharf but we made it eventually, just ten minutes or so before they were due to open at nine. The cut is not well dredged on the offside so the bow tends to swing away when you go into reverse instead of carrying on turning.

Jackie showed up almost as soon as we were tied and gave us a good pumping out for £15.50.

Back then to the junction we went and on to the foot of Glascote where we were number six in a queue which eventually had a dozen boats in it. CRT were hard at work; the intermediate pound was drained and the bottom lock nearly so.

We had a look at the sights then went back to the boat, made a cup of coffee and put the chairs out on the towpath. Sadly the weather deteriorated quite quickly and by the time we'd finished the coffee we had to retreat in doors.

Some pottering on the net and an early lunch helped to pass the time and by one o'clock there were signs that the job was nearly done. By half one the queue was moving steadily onwards and upwards. As usual, some of us went up to the locks and helped the boats in front of us get going, whilst others waited until their boat was next to move.

At twenty to three we were clear of the top lock and chugging through Amington in drizzly rain. About fifty minutes later we arrived at Alvecote and found a mooring on the towpath before the Narrowcraft yard. I think I'll need to light the stove soon as the damp makes it feel a bit clammy inside the boat.

Never mind, I'm sure we'll have a warm welcome in the Samuel Barlow…

/wahaha

Objectives achieved

It was a pretty broken night last night, with wind and rain from time to time, and the impact being extended by drips from the overhanging trees bouncing off the roof. Still, at least it meant we were up and doing in good time yet again. The rain had stopped, but it was still pretty breezy, and I was glad of Sanity Again's good behaviour in such conditions.

We boated to Peel's Wharf and filled the water tank properly; I nipped off and got the paper whilst this was going on. Then it was round to Fazeley Mill Marina for just after nine. I managed the turn off the Coventry onto the Birmingham and Fazeley without hitting the towpath for once, but the entry to the marina was a right hassle. Having filled the water tank, the bow was swimming very deep, and the offside mud grabbed it in a loving embrace.

This meant that when I tried to motor the stern round, the whole darling boat slid sideways down the cut. In the end, I managed to get the stern into the towpath bridge hole (we need to reverse in to have the pump out on the right side) and we finally got onto the wharf.

There's a new woman doing the work there, and very helpful she was. We took 62 litres of diesel and just managed to pump out in the time allocation on the machine. Exiting went much more smoothly; another boat was waiting already, so our early start paid off.

Back we went the way we'd come, with the wind blowing some of the time but the sun shining quite a lot too. We've come on through Hopwas to tie on the towpath beyond Hopwas Woods; there's a good view here, and no trees, so hopefully a more peaceful night tonight.

Meanwhile, BW have done it again. Anyone remember the great bollards fiasco, when they spent a fortune installing three bollards at every lock, regardless of whether they were needed? Take a look at Maffi's post about the new safety rails on the Staffs and Worcs Locks. Things are now much safer for people riding their bikes across the lock, but the licence paying boater may well have his head knocked off. I mean, OK, it's only two miles an hour or so going into a lock, but how would you like to stand there whilst I hit you on the head with an RSJ at 2 mph?

I despair, I really do – does no one at BW actually think this stuff through from the point of view of those who pay their wages?

/XD

Edited to add: Sarah on Chertsey has done a really well balanced post about the whole issue too; her level headedness puts me to shame!