Idiosyncrasies of locks

Wednesday, 22 April 2009 18:44

The Weaver Navigation - to give it its "proper title" is very quiet. Well, it is at this end anyway! There were a couple of boats past us today; an Anglo Welsh hire boat and a "Noddy" boat.

I mentioned Hunt's Lock and Vale Royal Lock last blog. We noticed some very different aspects about the locks. Of course, one must be impressed by the Lock Keepers and their helpfulness. As one explained to me, the locks are each very different and the gear and gate controls are not the usual type.

Hunt's Lock is manned all day but Vale Royal Lock has passage times at the moment. The barge lock is under extensive repair due to subsidence and the Coaster Lock is big enough to take two of the barge locks.

I think Hunt's Lock is the more attractive of the two locks, particularly taken from this angle with the railway in the background.

Exiting Hunt's Lock

Some occupants in the lock steps

Both locks have railway type signals, we think to say which lock to use

The paddle gear is different too

Last time we had this experience we were on the Kennet and Avon

The swing bridge over Vale Royal Lock had to swing open before we could exit the lock, rather like Hungerford Marsh Lock but much bigger!

Today we took some photos of the work at Royal Vale Lock, but I am too tired to sort the photos out this evening so will have a go tomorrow!

We had a long walk this afternoon and our muscles are not used to it - opening locks uses different leg muscles from walking and probably we are not as "fit" in the sporting sense as we think! More long walks called for maybe!

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