Navigation hints for Woolhampton

Saturday, 14 May 2011 00:55

I found these hints for navigating Woolhampton lock and swing bridge on the Geograph website. A change of font is to emphasise that they are not my words.

You may find them amusing too, but they carry a serious message.

Woolhampton Lock from above

Hints for navigating through Woolhampton lock and swing bridge when going downstream

1. Operate the lock.

2. When the lock is empty send a responsible crew member ahead to open the bridge and wait.

3. While waiting pray.

4. When bridge is fully open leave the lock at full speed, making allowance for the inrush of water from the right immediately after the lock.

4. Go like the clappers until you are half way through the bridge.

5. When half way through the bridge go hard astern and you should be able to stop on the current opposite the landing stage.

6. Steer your front end (not bows please) to the left. Holding the boat on the current stationary to the land should bring it nicely into the landing stage to pick up your crew.

7. If you get it wrong it will be raining, your crew will have to walk all the way to Aldermaston lock and will be mad as two cats in a sack when you get there. Also there will be a huge crowd of gongoozlers to cheer you on.