Sunday 31st
7.30am
We had been up for only 5 minutes when I heard the sound of
paddle gear being worked. Someone even earlier then us ascending the top lock of
the Stone flight. Leaving Ian to grab some breakfast I untied and headed
for
the lock. One lock with us, would all the rest be the same? Answer was
yes but
only because we met another three boats also heading up the flight. Gosh
they
must be even earlier risers then us.
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7.40am. Top of the flight |
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Last lock leaving Stone, time 8.50am |
Stopping for water and loo emptying after the
2nd lock 30 minutes later we descended the last of the two locks in the
flight and thought we
were making good time to reach Great Hayward for a little after lunch.
We didn’t
reckon on meeting a boat going at tick over speed. Although the boat
didn’t
look like a hire boat, I think the person on the helm must have been
relatively
new to this boating lark as he almost came to a stop at every bridge
with tiller going in all directions. We
did
ask
if we could get past but every time we thought we could go, another
oncoming boat appeared, or worse still, a bridge 'ole. Finally after
sitting behind him for
nearly 3/4 hour, he misjudged coming through a bridge and couldn't get
the bow away from the side because of a long curved bend. This gave us
the opportunity to pass once he waved us on and that was the last we saw of him for the rest of the day.
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Look at that oncoming boat. It's a wonder he could see where he was going. Looks like we are right on the boats stern but he stopped and we had to do a quick reverse. |
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Couldnt get the bow off the bend. With us going past it pulled his front out. |
Another near miss at bridge 90A with another hire
boat. Ian on
the helm and hard into reverse. Chap on the hire boat did likewise but
forgot
to turn the tiller and by heck he hit the bank hard. We stopped to help
him but with a friendly wave said he could manage. I wonder how much
crockery
got broken on contact.
Look at this. A queue at Weston Lock. First time in ages that we had to wait! Almost forgotten what it was like.
At Great Hayward the gongoozlers were out in force by the
lock. Better not mess up and lucky for us a boat was just coming
out of the lock. In we sailed without mishap, much to our
relief.
Moored beyond the bridge with the Hall in sight, we set off
for a wander round the gardens. With rain forecast for tomorrow our idea was to
do the house and servants quarters then. Whether we move on after our visit will depend on the rainfall.
2 comments:
The slow grey boat looks like a Norbury Wharf hire boat to me.
Thanks Adam. There was no sign to say it was a hire boat but makes sense now that you mentioned it.
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