I have nightmares about this lock

Friday, 13 May 2011 16:54

Some of you may know which one I am talking about - but more of that later. We left our mooring below Frouds Bridge in the sunshine....

Frouds Bridge

Frouds Bridge was once a swing bridge (known as Fronds Bridge) which was replaced during the restoration with this fixed bridge in 1989. We were on one of the River Kennet sections with a fair flow against us. It is wooded and has a path either side.

Wickham Knight footbridge has interesting architecture and we wondered it if was "disabled friendly" - but did not stop to check. Once again this was once the site of a swing bridge.

Wickham Knight footbridge

Now we arrived in my nightmare: Woolhampton! First there is the electric swing bridge, then the lock. But in between the River Kennet enters from the south, creating a cross current that can be very fierce and often catches the unwary boater out. We pulled into the landing and John went to investigate the state of play.

Epiphany at Woolhampton Bridge landing

John came back to say that there was a lady just about to open the bridge .... and by the time he came back, the bridge began to swing. We waited for the hire boat to negotiate the bridge - at great speed! He apologised for being a novice, but actually he handled it all very well and even managed to stop (just) to pick up his lady crew! He must have read this notice on the west side of the bridge.

Advice notice

We went through the bridge and the hireboat's crew closed it. 

Past the first obstacle!

We were able to pull in on the lock landing beside The Rowbarge pub garden and as the bottom gates of the lock were open, I got off to work the lock. I was generously letting John handle Epiphany across the river current! He gave it some welly and arrived without incident!

This moored narrowboat (it has been here for years!) is well protected against any bumps - well, if he must moor between the bridge and lock he should expect a few if the river is in full flow.

Nb Embergo

Here is a "John's" eye view of entering Woolhampton Lock - he was able to take photos and control the boat! Not a recommended course of action for novice boaters, methinks.

Entering Woolhampton Lock

Phew - we had done it; now only the paddles and force of water in the lock to worry about. All four paddles were hydraulic, so not too much bother. It was just a case of opening them very, very slowly. By the time I was ready to cross the top gates another hire boat had arrived at the top and so I did not have to do a balancing act on the balance beam! I was told to get on the boat - actually I held her in to the side whilst John went to open the gate.

Nearly at the top

We did not have to obey this sign as the other boat would do it for us as he was going down.

Lock notice

However, the hire boat needed to take note of these other notices - if anyone doubted that this lock and bridge could be dangerous, there are enough warning notices for them to read and they will "cover" BW if anything nasty happens.

Caution notices on the lock side

There are some pleasant moorings above the lock so we decided to stop and stay overnight. It was still fairly early in the day so we had time to explore Woolhampton and maybe even the sample the local hostelry!

So here we are, a short journey but full of potential problems - I am so glad my nightmare did not happen!

Kennet and Avon Canal, Frouds Bridge to Woolhampton
1 hour 3 minutes, 1.56 miles, 1 lock