Ian's good deed

Friday 21st

 Westport Lake, really quiet apart from the odd honk from the Canada Geese. Had a bit of rain overnight, nothing to write home about though. So the plan this morning was to wind at the Harecastle Tunnel. A winding hole of 62ft was shown on the map, ample for our 57ft to get around. One problem we did encounter was moored boats all waiting for passage through. This reduced the winding hole considerably and we did wonder if we would have to wait until they started to leave. But then the boat most in our way decided to go to the water point. This gave us enough room to complete the manoeuvre.

As we started to turn the phone rings. It's Marilyn, we declined the call to concentrate on winding. It rang again, once more we pressed the dismiss button. 

When we did eventually phone back it was to learn that Waka Huia had broken down at lock 3 on the Caldon and she desperately wanted some advice. The boat almost stalled and steerage became all but non existent, it was suspected something had fouled the prop. This in itself was not the reason for the call, no, the engine refused to shut down and no way was she going to go down the weed hatch with it running. Ian offered to check it out but first we had to get back to the moorings at Festival Park. 

 

A good 40 minutes later we made it back, Ian gathered his tools and set off to walk the mile to Plank Lock. While he was gone this gave me a good opportunity to give the inside of FS a good clean. So much easier without Ian there.  Just over an hour later he was back. Turns out a nut had come loose from the stop solenoid and that's why the engine couldn't be turned off. Once it was safe to go down the weed hatch, David found the reason. A carpet had wrapped itself around the prop. As a thank you, Ian was handed 6 of Marilyn's wonderful cheese scones. They were devoured during the afternoon and even cold, they were just as delicious. 

Now we await our sons arrival with Toffee. That will be lunch time tomorrow.

And seen on route

 It would be very difficult for two boats to pass at this spot.It was so shallow that in places the water disappeared to reveal a mudbank.