Moved on by C&RT

Blast, blast,blast. Of all the things to knock over it had to be a bottle of Ian's white wine! Smashed to smithereens all over the floor, wine everywhere and running under the fridge and washing machine. Trying to soak it up in a towel without getting shards of glass stuck in fingers was challenging. Washing machine had to be pulled out and the liquid mopped up. Loads went down the cracks in the floor boards so I reckon the boat's going to smell like a brewery for the foreseeable future! Think I owe him another bottle.

Anyway today we left Broughton and after 3.5 hours of travel made it back to the junction. Still had low water levels, in fact I think they were lower then when we traveled down. Noticed the bridge repairs were coming along nicely. C&RT was cutting stones with a grinder as I approached the lock which made me rush indoors to shut windows. Luckily FS was right by the gates and I felt confident enough to leave the helm.

Think the levels are even lower

That smoke is from the grinder

Not a lot of bricks left

 Because we had reached the junction midday we continued down the Marsworth 2 and stopped in between Seabrook locks. Lovely and peaceful here and not another boat moored.

Blast blast and blast again! Settled down nicely to do a spot of fishing. Had already baked a banana cake and was letting that cool when a knock on the window alerted us to two C&RT bods. 'Cant stay here' says one. 'Not at all advisable' says the other. Thinking it may be problems with the local youths, one of them then told us the pound leaked...badly. In fact in three places and if we stayed overnight we certainly wouldn't be floating. The repairs to the bank are to be scheduled for this winter so if anyone is reading this going down (or up) the GU don't moor between locks 34 and 35 on the Seabrook locks until next year. Also round the corner was another boat. Pulled in just before the arrival of C&RT. They had even just banged their pins in but like us, were advised to move.

On the move again

Solar panels down but aerial left up

Hmmm Levels have dropped somewhat.

The bank which needs some attention and where the leaks are

C&RT mooring.

I did ask if there were moorings available below the lock and apparently not. But a C&RT mooring just below lock 34 on the offside was free and we could use that. So here we are our own little private mooring, not quite as peaceful because of water running, but in the full sun, good for the solar panels and tomorrow morning I may go see what the pound is like.

We did 6.5 miles, 17 locks and a swing bridge in 5 hours, until, that is, we got moved on! Then another lock was added.

I bet your wondering why there is a photo of our tiller pin. Look closely at the next photo and you will see why.

 It then blow me down, if it didn't go and land in the water in the lock, just as I was doing a touch of reverse. Thought it was a goner for sure until up it popped none the worse for it's dunking and crawled onto a reed leaf.

And then off it flew landing on the wall of a house. Resilient these moths.