28th October
No rain today, windy yes, and I suppose we could have moved on. But an oil change was due, so Ian spent his time wisely. As for me I pottered about, doing bits and bobs before giving the fishing another go.
Boat after boat came past. 30 or more and apart from one private boat, all hire boats. A day boat pulled in and stopped for lunch. I watched as they set off and wondered why the parents thought it okay for their child to stand on the cabin top. As boaters, we can see the dangers but I suppose the family, probably on their very first narrow boat, were just out to have a good time.
And it's pretty obvious that Halloween is just around the corner.
29th October.
On the move again and in the dry...so far. The rain that had been forecasted for yesterday during the day, arrived with vengeance last night. Didn't have to put a sponge to the cabin top 'cos the rain washed the dirt off nicely, and even the ropes had a good clean. Still more to come today, we were fully expecting to get drenched and as it turned out we were. So near to a bridge 'ole that I did the unthinkable and stopped FS in the middle! Nice and dry under that arch and luckily the rain was short-lived, and no other boat turned up!
New Marton Locks, notorious for the wind that blows across the fields catching the unaware as they try to stop on the landing. We had been subjected to the gusts many a time in the past and now know to stop way before the bollards by some bushes that acts as windbreaks. The wind caught out this hirer though, sending him right across the canal and in front of the lock mouth with a descending boat.
And it wasn't so much the wind that was his downfall as he exited the lock, The by wash dragged him to the right where he got stuck with his stern in the lock exit and bow by the weir. Ian at the lock side, helped pull him back.
Now one thing that did happen here and was relayed to me by Ian, the families little girl got a nasty injury to her hand. She managed to pull the lever up on the pawl catch (stops the paddle from dropping) and on the spindle the boater's windlass was still attached. Left unattended it spun around hitting the little girl smartly on the hand. This could have resulted in broken bones but today she got of lightly with bruised knuckles. Moral to this story, never leave children unattended at the lock side to play with the paddle gear and never leave the windlass attached to the spindle and walk away!
We stopped above the second lock. Very noticeable today was the lack of hire boats out now. Half-term is over and only the hardy private boaters like us are out and about. We did have a phone call from Christine and Kev to say Quoisley lock had opened. They managed to get through without too much of a wait and now are at Baddiley locks with only Swanley and Hurleston locks to do before heading toward Bunbury. They should be back Saturday at the 14.30 deadline.
And seen on route,
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| Frankton Junction and the start of the Montgomery Canal |
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| Towpath subsidence |
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| Hazard by a bridge 'ole |
And wildlife
2 comments:
Very first thing we taught our kids and any Scouts/Explorers we were taking out. Make sure the ratchet is engaged and remove the windlass and don't drop the paddles.
It annoys me with kids playing on roofs like that. We (as hire boaters last week) followed another crew through Braunston. They were allowing their teenagers to do star jumps and play on the roof all through braunston and under every bridge and jumping on and off at the locks.
I'm glad we weren't lock sharing else words would have been exchanged.
Also didn't help that they went through the tunnel on tickover.
Unfortunately, Dave, some hirers are totally unaware of the dangers and until something nasty happens, (the death of a child) I expect we will continue to see this mad behaviour more and more. At least Anglo Welsh, on handover to our daughter and family, made the boys promise not to walk along the gunwales or climb on the cabin top. I was very impressed with the handover.
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