Up the locks we go again - or try to

Monday, 22 June 2009 19:31

The day started well. It was calm as a mill pond in Glasson Basin this morning as we did the tour of basin whilst winding to go back up the locks.

Masts galore in the Marina

At the end of the basin the boat restaurant is for sale, the snack bar is due for re-development into a cafe and apartments, the Inn is thriving!

The three eateries!

John was locking this time and I stayed on board steering. There was still a broken paddle in lock 6 - this time a pic from the stern!

Lock 6 useless paddle

In one of the fields there was what I think is an old Pill Box. It looks as if it may have been adapted as a cattle shelter and needs an haircut on top! Was it to defend against marauders who had entered via Glasson Dock?

Pill Box

The bridges before some of the locks make getting into locks easier as the boat can be lined up with the side of the bridge. We had left our fenders down against all our principals, but the locks gates were wide enough to accommodate them.

Bridge 3 and Lock, one bottom paddle here was broken too

John had been reading someone's blog last night and as a result mentioned that we should get a spare throttle cable in case ours went any time - as had the bloggers throttle cable. I for some reason - maybe my sixth sense - had decided that John needed a rest from the really hard locks so got off to do lock 2. See this blog for more details of the hard locks!

Now the Slee Glasson curse struck!

So here I go. Close bottom paddle (all the locks have to be left empty), open gate with difficulty as it was so heavy and catch my breath as John brings the boat in. Hear sudden yell - "I have no reverse" (this means he cannot stop the boat) so I run to take the mid rope thrown from the depths of the lock. Loop the rope around a convenient bollard (Thanks BW!) and stop the boat.

"I think it is the throttle cable!" John phones RCR (River Canal Rescue, the AA of the Inland Waterways for those of you who do not know!). They will send someone out, but he is on another job at the moment! OK we will wait.

Meanwhile I really struggle to close the bottom gate, in fits and starts and with aching calf muscles and bruised bum, I manage it! Actually perhaps we might manage to do the 2 locks to the junction as we have tickover to go forward, says John! I open the top paddle a wee bit and keep a tight rope as Epiphany settles.

All goes well and we manage that one - we manage to stop her on the lock landing below the top lock - using astern and ropes.

Stricken Epiphany on the lock landing!

John pops up to see if there is a mooring free on the Main Line. Yes - on the permit holders only, but our need is great! So up we go, except I cannot close the gate so John gets off to do it - it needed both of us. With some Gongoozlers watching we slowly work the lock - oh goody there is a boat wanting to come down.

I explain our predicament and they are very patient - it is Celtic Kiwi, a share boat that we have seen all over the system from Llangollen to the K & A. Now it is "oop north".

John noses Epiphany out of the lock and takes the bow across the canal, I grab the stern rope and we turn her so she faces towards Preston, reverse slowly and moor. Phew - RCR are notified of our new location and John settles down to wait.

I meanwhile walk to the nearby bus stop at Galgate to go into Lancaster to pick up my prescription and a couple of other things! It almost feels like going home!

When I got back, I spotted Nb Margaret Rose who came over the Ribble Link with us. We had wondered where they had got to as we had not seen them. They have had engine problems so this is as far as they have got - but they have until mid August before they return.

RCR had just arrived too. We were privileged to have our throttle cable changed by none other than the Chief Executive of the company as he had been called out to help. They are very busy at the moment and conveniently for us he lives in Preston!

Here is a bit of canal trivia - RCR staff are the only ones allowed to use a motorbike on canal towpaths. So next time you see someone on motorbike ask them if they work for RCR and can repair something for you! You won't see them for dust if they do not!

So there we are, another adventure on the Glasson Branch! We are now moored peacefully and legitimately on the Visitor moorings! Ah but please do not let our "curse" put you off the Glasson Branch, we were glad we had been down there! Just remember that it is very hard work!

>>> View Next Post		View Previous Post <<<