Held up today, running repairs!

Thursday, 04 December 2008 17:53

Today started wet but by the time we set off the sun was shining. However we did not get too far. In just over half a mile we arrived at Red Lion lock (69), named after "Ye Olde Red Lion" pub nearby. This is the first of two Nash Mills Locks.

Unfortunately "Ye Olde Red Lion" lock was broken! We took a rope off at the lock landing as it is an awkward lock to get into and we could see it was full with legs visible under the bridge just before! John wandered up and came back after a few minutes.

He then told me that the horn on the lock gate was broken. Horn? They don't warn boaters they are shutting and opening, no one blows a horn to announce that the lock is ready. What on earth is the "horn".

It is part of the collar on the lock gate, part of the mechanism that enables the gate to pivot and open correctly. The screw had sheered off and the BW men who were repairing it thought that a boat had hit the gates.
So we were held up for about 2 hourswhilst they repaired the gate.  I hope these are labelled correctly!










We took the opportunity to have lunch. The BW guys saw us through the lock and a boat that was waiting to come down. In the next lock - Nash Mills lock, we watered up as there is a tap just by the top gates.


At the bottom of Apsley locks is Apsley Marina  - we had heard that the lift bridge at the entrance was broken but all appeared to be OK as we passed. The Marina has restaurants, fast food, shop and all the facilities a boater might need if he never left the marina

The three Apsley locks are close together and we caught up with another boat at the second one and locked up that and the next one together.

By now it was about 3.30 pm and we like to moor up about then as the light starts going and it begins to get colder as the sun begins to disappear. So we have moored just above the top lock in more or less the same spot as when we came down.

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