Trouble at Common Lock

Tuesday 22nd

Miracle! Neither of us had hangovers this morning. Must have been the gallon of water downed by both at 2 am this morning. 

Off to Fradley today, the same journey yet again but in reverse. Got to that narrow bit with the reeds and look at these two photos of the same spot. Top one taken today and the bottom one on the 12th travelling in the opposite direction.

 

 10 days apart but look what has been done. C&RT or landowner but what a difference it makes.

Seemed to take forever to get to Fradley. We met a very slow boat and almost lost the will to live! Never mind, get there we did, quite annoying though that they stopped instead of going through the swing bridge. They knew we were right behind but never offered to allow us past. I could understand if they wanted to get through the locks before us but hey ho, such is life.

Fradley swing bridge

This time we turned right and just as I was about to make the turn a boat came from Junction lock wanting to go onto the Coventry. Unfortunately there was no way to avoid the inevitable with both boats trying to turn and our boats hit. Apologies made by both of us and good humour banter followed. "Good job they are made of steel" she shouted.

Yesterday a lock was turned in front of us and today the blooming same thing happened again, but this time by a volunteer! Even Ian calling to him didn't stop the bottom paddles being raised. "A second or two earlier and it would have been your lock" said he. "And if you had acknowledged my hail it would also have been our lock" said Ian. "Funny how everyone else at the lock side heard me."

From the Coventry came Alice B. Having left a good 15 minutes later than us, Tony had easily caught up.

 

It did mean Gill was on hand to help us down.

Gosh there was a lot of leakage from Common lock and it turned out that this was also the lock that very nearly had a stoppage due to the top gate being hit.

So, to the lock problem. We had moored on one of our favourite moorings, on pins as no piled edge, but such a lovely rural peaceful place. Several boats had passed us going both ways. Then a lull, a long, long lull. Ian stepped up to the back deck, looked toward Common lock and mentioned a queue of boats waiting at the top, with one waiting on the lock landing at the bottom and one already in the lock.

Periodology I watched from the mooring. When C&RT turned up, well yes there must be a problem.

 It was only as that boat in the lock finally made its descent and a crew member walked past our boat that the story was told.

This is what was said. A boat on exit had hit the top gate and the collar had slipped from its housing causing the gate to drop. C&RT turned up having been told of the problem but with nothing more than.....wait for it....just some red and white tape! No tools, no nothing! It was only because the boat waiting at the bottom happened to have carpentry tools on board, and with his help, got that collar back in place. 

To all my non boating readers this is what I have been on about. This from another lock and not the damaged one.

Still can't understand how hitting the gate would cause the gate to come off.

 Anyway eventually all the queueing boats made it down, the last ones to be seen that evening.

And wildlife

 

Trying to eat an apple core

Something wrong with this photo.