Locks and more Locks

I stayed at the canal centre last night waiting for today when by arrangement my passage through the Deepcut and Brookwood locks would be possible.

Pootling Along

I set off at 8:30 to make sure I was at lock 28 in time to meet the Canal Ranger at 9:30, I arrived at about 9:15 so had a quick cup of tea and then Mat the Ranger arrived, he ran through the way would be proceeding and partly helped, watched me through the first lock, he then went off ahead of me to set the locks ready so I could motor straight in, once I had got through I was able to leave the gates open so that Mat could return later to caulk (seal) them up to try to prevent water loss.

All went ok, and as I got into the swing, I found that Mat had left a few of the locks empty for me to do the complete job, so it was moor up, fill the lock, open the gates, motor in, close the gates, empty the lock, motor out, it all went well, it probably adds another 10 minutes to each lock if it is against you but that very much depends on how quickly the lock fills, some are quite leaky so as the water rushes in, at the other end some of it is busy rushing out again, hence the caulking up after someone has gone through, the main reason why you have to arrange passage and have the Ranger in attendance, water loss is a real problem on the Basingstoke Canal, although I understand it has improved dramatically over recent years.

Leaking back in as I empty lock

So 17 locks, started at about 9:30, finished at about 2:30 and  reached my mooring for tonight by 2:45, what’s the word for it,  exhausted, well almost, but definitely not something I want to do  many times, after all the idea is a leisurely retirement taking in 

 some of our beautiful countryside and visiting villages etc, not  hurrying from lock to lock to lock, so my mooring for tonight is  with woodland one side, and apparently dog walker heaven the  other, it’s Knaphill.

View from the side hatch

View the other side

I won’t be venturing to far on foot as I know  the area anyway, but there is a handy Sainsbury so I will visit that, I  am probably staying put until Saturday,

(although I may move on to  see what other moorings are available), when I have arranged to  meet a Ranger again for the St John’s flight of a mere 5 locks  taking me through to just outside Woking.

To Date: 18 Locks   : 1 Swingbridge : 22 Miles