The sacrificial link

"What was Ian up to"?, I asked myself. Then... ahh... oh yes...completely forgotten that also on the day when I had my senior moments, I had also managed to snap the links on the front fender.

In a way, I was not really to blame. I normally sit back on a lock gate when we are ascending and control the boats forward movement by a touch of reverse. There does come a moment though when there is that 'point of no return'. Here is the scenario,  top gate paddle lifted and your initial momentum is to go backwards but as the force of water hits the bottom gate back it goes to the source. Hence the boat wants to go forward with it. Sitting right back onto the bottom gate in reverse gear helps stop the surge, but....the point of no return happens if the surge of water is greater than the boats prop can handle. Then, unless the paddle is dropped quickly, the boat races forward toward the top gate. Some may ask why not keep the boat forward onto the top gate. Well, this is exactly why I snapped the links on the front button fender. Anything sticking out will catch the fender as the boat starts its ascent and because the fender is hard up against the gate two things could happen. One. The fender gets wedged and the nose starts to go down with a possibility of sinking, or two (and the one Ian uses with a button or stern fender) is the sacrificing of the sacrificial links. 

The curled wire is cut to size the makes the sacrificial link

 So to get back to my original statement, Ian was joined by a chap who asked if he could help. Help is always appreciated but instead of lifting the paddle slowly whipped it up to over half way. I hit 'the point of no return' and couldn't stop the surge even though Ian dropped his paddle. The fender caught on a section of damaged iron and snap went the links.

To get back to today, No we didn't get to see the Mikron theatre last night. Too engrossed in the Pirates of the Carribean and no sighting of the boat when we left this morning. Reaching Norbury there they were already moored. Must have left early from Gnosell as a lunchtime performance was being prepared for at the wharf..

Norbury

Diesel at Norbury was 79p ltr. Glad we stopped at Turners.

 There is a section on the Shroppie past bridge 42 with at least 1 mile of moored boats. I timed when we hit the start of the line and when we eventually got to the end. It took 30 minutes exactly.

There are some unique bridges to take photos of and this one I have photographed many a time. But it just had to have its photo taken again. It's compulsory!

I was dreading the Woodseaves cutting. So much offside vegetation and not many places to pass without having to nestle right into it. So very lucky today as not another boat met until out the other side.

Nearly at Market Drayton with just Tyrley locks to do. Five in the flight and only the top lock to turn around. All the rest had boats exiting making for a quick locking.

And seen during the journey

We thought the field was alight. Is this lime spreading?

Wouldnt like to have a property near this.

 And seen on route,

A hot Swan maybe?