No boat movement.

On Sunday I went back to Surrey, my thanks once again to my sister and her partner who not only housed me but also collected me and returned me to the boat along with chauffeuring me to the funeral I was down South for, it wasn't a nice reason for the trip, but it was nice to catch up with some of the extended family whilst there.

Yesterday I walked along the towpath to see how the works to the lock closure were coming along, they seem to be on target for opening possibly tomorrow but definately Saturday, I asked one of the operatives and he confirmed that.

A few snaps of what it looks like at the moment, it's difficult to get too close, health and safety etc, but here's what I could see.

This is the temporary dam across the canal, I would like to see how they get that in place but no doubt it is easier than it might appear.

The closure was for lock gate replacements and brickwork repairs, the top gates have been replaced you can see that in this picture

And the old gates are loaded ready to be removed from site by workboat, just visible in this picture

The brickwork repairs are still ongoing on the left here behind the dam.

And this shows how they hold back the water while working on the lock, sometimes they would drain the pound between two locks, but in this particular situation there are quite a number of residential boats moored in that pound so I assume the dam was a better option.

It looks fairly Heath Robinson but is effective, heavy duty sheeting over a series of triangular metal frames, that can be raised or lowered up the supporting poles.

This morning the workboat with the old gates on board passed me by, so it may be open already but having been in contact with Jules Fuels I will be staying put until they arrive here on Saturday to take on coal gas and diesel, probably moving now Sunday or Monday.