Tuesday 21 August 2012

The Big One (19-6)


Tuesday 21st August 2012.

Barrowford Top Lock to Bank Newton Bottom Lock.


The weather was its usual self, somewhat changeable. We set off with overcast sky. Later the sun came through. Then the big heavy stuff turned up and we had torrents of rain, which started out with hailstones. Then we had a couple of hours of steady rain. The end of the day was bright sunshine once more.

We had an interesting experience whilst negotiating a flight of locks. In the approach to the first lock, we met a boat who had just come up. The couple aboard said - the locks are set for you and there is no one behind us. On reaching the next lock, we were surprised to find the lock empty and the bottom gates open. Looking down the flight we can see the next lock also has its bottom gates open and no one in sight. So we turned the lock around. As we are about to enter the lock a boater arrives. Saying, "I had set that lock for us." We could tell that the boater was not happy that we had turned the lock around.


But when I looked, there is no boat in sight in the next pound. However, now someone can be seen in the distance opening the top sluices on the lock below. 

We actually passed their boat in the middle of the next pound. Not only that they had shut the gates against us. Yet we had left the lock gates open ready for them. Childish behaviour I thought to myself. Then I noticed there was a young lad walking down to the next lock below. On arrival he quickly had the bottom sluices open, draining the lock in front of us. He then hurried down to the next lock below and opened the bottom sluices yet again. As he passed us, on his way back I enquired why he had opened the sluices. But there was no answer from him as he hurried past to catch up with the other boat.  This was a family of petulant children of all ages and they were not on a hire boat! What was that all about!


Out on your boat and the dog needs grooming. If you are near the Gargrave area of North Yorkshire. Jo the lady who runs "Posh Pooches" will collect your dog give it some pampering and return it back to the boat wherever you get to, while you carry on cruising. 07854-523008

Wildlife: We watched three young Swallows perched on a moored boats tiller bar being fed by the parent birds. This is a late brood and there are only a couple of weeks before the birds must leave for Africa.



This Weeks Solar Panel Data.
Average 22.7 Ah per day  High 38Ah Low 11Ah



Daily Total
Miles: 11.3
Locks: 9
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 5.0




Accumulated Totals
Miles: 1115.3
Locks: 805
Swing / Lift Bridges: 120
Tunnels. 22
Pump Outs: 13
Engine Hours: 2382.3

Later......


2 comments:

  1. Can you recall the name of the boat that the numpties were on? They deserve to be named and shamed, and then when karma catches up with them we can have a wry smile.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have no doubt that with those sort of attitude towards fellow boaters that one day they will meet someone with a highly developed lack of karma!

    ReplyDelete

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