Things that go bang

16/6/2018


Behold the Cap'n,  showing us the very large bag that had wrapped round our propeller.
He was on the lock wall above Evesham, watching his 1st mate steer the boat into the lock, hopefully without incident, when the boat shuddered, the engine with a bang cut out, the boat adrift. 1st mate in a daze turns the ignition key off (right move).
The boat continues to drift into the lock,  thank you boat, where it lies alongside so Cap'n can board. Yes, after much heaving and pulling, out comes this enormous bag, used to transport soil, rocks etc.

Our first lock of the day, travelling upstream- so drifting onto the weir not an issue. I have a particular dislike of drifting boats and weirs. It occurred to me months later that the boat and I could have drifted downstream towards some nasty weirs, if the incident had happened a little further from the lock.

With the prop cleared, weed hatch secured,  the engjne was re started. It appears no damage.

Rivers. Large weirs, currents, underwater obstructions,  mediaeval bridges with only one navigable channel.  Wide deep locks with savage water flows. Let's add rivers to the dislike list. Give me canals anyday.

The next hazard, and potential bang, occurred in our last lock of the day, at Luddington. The photo attached shows some tame looking drum things, which may stop your craft careering onto a weir. Also some peaceful willows, a pleasant spot.

Beside the weir, another deep lock. A nice English gentleman and his wife, his boat, are in the lock as we approach, so he kindly beckons us to join him. This is etiquette, as it saves water.

With horror we realise his craft is a fibreglass cruiser, the sort we unkindly call plastic, or very rudely, a gin palace. In fact we fear them, or rather what our 20 tonnes of steel boat will do if we nudge one. And so we slip in beside him with great caution, the Cap'n climbs ashore, we rope with some anxiety to our side of the lock. My rope throwing skills need practise. And with the blokes ashore , releasing water into the lock, the boats rising, swinging, wives hanging onto wet slippery ropes.....No bang!

It is 5pm. Would I like to motor on for another 3 miles, 2 more locks and weirs? Emphatically No!
A cuppa, a stroll into the village, a glass of red., a much better proposition.

Whinge over!

Comments

  1. MarkM15 June 2018 at 18:21

    Glad to hear that the bag round the prop incident worked out ok.

    ReplyDelete

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