Put In My Place

Which is still very much a novice.

Today was shall I say, interesting, I am worried (paranoid) about most things to do with the boat, currently (no pun intended) I think it’s taking too long to charge up the batteries, I don’t know, just think, so first job at 9:30 was to check the batteries acid levels, all seemed ok, next job (one I meant to do yesterday after stopping) was to experience first hand the delights of the weed hatch, this is a device (steel box open under the water and sealed with a locking bar above the water) above the propeller, it allows you to lower your hand into the icy cold depths and carefully feel your way around the propeller for any objects that have become attached, then lying on your stomach with a knife or wire cutters or brute strength remove said alien objects, I must say overall it was not a nice job, however I was happy to remove a school tie (don’t know which school) some fishing line, leaves and twigs and of course the mandatory black bin liner (remains anyway), I presume this little collection was courtesy of Woking town area.

I then set of for Pyrford Marina after having to pole myself away from the bank again, there is an acute turn right at the end of the Basingstoke into the River Wey towards Guildford, I nearly made it around, oh well no harm done, reverse back a bit and have a second go, this time with knowledge gained from the first attempt I got round beautifully, no points for two attempts though.

I repeated the exercise at the entrance to the Marina, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, made it in second attempt, filled with diesel had a chat about electrics with the man who knows, he said all seemed “normal” but all boats are different and if I was worried book an electrician to give it the once over when convenient. Being anxious about the number of boats around I asked him the easiest way to get out of the Marina quite hoping he would say just go all the way around in a big circle, but no, “just reverse out”, hmmmm..... so one attempt at reversing and then I did a three point turn in the wind and limited space, the only casualty was the loss of my very old dirty baseball cap which the wind kindly donated to a passing swan for a Christmas toy.

SO having done 29 locks all downhill I considered myself quite accomplished, well that was a mistake, first approaching the lock landing right outside the pub at Pyrford lock I again misjudge it and have to back up and have a second go, ok got it right this time, now I am grateful it’s winter as there is no-one outside the pub to witness this minor embarrassment, the lock is against me and for the first time I am going uphill, so first prepare the lock, that bit was easy, into the lock, up the ladder tie up with centre line only, close the gates behind me, open the sluice nearest my boat, I had read all about this, the water shoots across the lock bounces of the far wall and rebounds to push your boat against the lock side holding it in place, in theory, what actually happened is the water with enough force to sink the proverbial battleship shoots into the side of my boat and hurls it across the lock, I shut the sluice PDQ in time to save disaster, two lessons learnt here, first pull the boat to the back of the lock when going uphill, not centrally or towards the front as I did going downhill, second tie up properly bow and stern, not just a centre line, a third lesson was don’t expect the water flows to be the same all locks are different and it appeared the Wey has “quite” fierce flow in the locks. Next was Walsham Lock which is left open except in times of flood, so pootle through that, Newark Priory,

Newark Priory Remains, Taken from the Lock

Papercourt Lock where a number of years ago in my former career we built a small extension onto the rear of the Lock Keepers Cottage

Paper Court Lock Keepers Cottage

for the National Trust, here there was a fierce weir on the right as I approached the lock, so I gave her some extra revs and at that point the wind kindly blew one of the gates closed, fortunately not completely but it did make entering the lock a little more challenging again!.

So another day done, another bit of learning, moored outside another Pub, The New Inn at Send, I am not venturing in because I am allowing myself to calm down slowly and soberly.

I am bored with keeping count, so....

Today 4 Locks : 6 Miles