If we had been in more of a rush, today would have been rather frustrating. However, we were in no such hurry so we could afford to be more laid back and go with the flow (or whatever cliche you prefer) So what happened?
Early morning was a bright dawn but by the time we set off the weather had turned back to its predicted greyness. Still quite warm and no rain.
Surprisingly we have spotted many more of the Living Mileposts than ever before, even though they could do with a lick of paint to make them more distinct. At least this one (the only one we have seen) has a red post.
We expected to be delayed at the Watford Flight- only 15 minutes away from our overnight mooring. However it was rather more congested, even at this fairly early time, than we had expected. We were third and by the time we were eventually able to go down, four more were in the queue behind us. However, there were now two boats just in the flight from below and so we had to wait for them to clear (the first boat down was allowed to cross in the pound below the top lock).
A husband and wife team were on duty today (they do two days a week regularly through the main season) and they were both friendly and helpful. Their main task is to regulate the traffic and hope to maximise the throughput, but this does depend on guessing the efficiency of each boat crew. Some take longer than others.
With the extra help we whizzed down the flight and were out within about 35 minutes of our eventual start time.
At the bottom the queue was growing even faster than at the top. Six boats were waiting by the time we left and within five minutes we had passed another four that would soon be joining them.
A good way to use roof space efficiently, combining a desire for a roof storage box with solar panels, something we have not spotted before. Perhaps we have not been looking closely enough as we saw another example later in the day!
We were by now rather low on fuel (around 35%) and at the point where a refill is a matter of priority. Having failed yesterday we did not want to make the same mistake today and we checked that Weltonfield Marina were open - they proudly claim 7 days a week.
We soon filled up and whilst at the office, Christine required about whether they could do our somewhat well due engine service (only an oil and filter change) but they could not fit us in until next week. They did however have space for a visitor mooring and so we are now booked in there for our next trip back home in ten days time. There is no convenient public transport but the marina will organise a taxi for us.
A short time later we arrived at Norton Junction (OK, Adam?)and the well photographed former Toll Cottage, strategically placed so that there was no chance of a wayward boat trying to creep by early or late in the day!
Finding a mooring spot along the section up to the tunnel has never been easy although some rather splendid looking piling is nearly finished for the first part after the junction so perhaps next year we will find it a bit easier! When we did try to pull in the best we could do involved deploying the gang plank.
After lunch we proceeded through the tunnel. Somehow, and we do not really know how, but one of the top rail fender hangers must have caught on something in the wall as we passed a boat coming the other way and it snapped into two pieces. At least we did not loose the fender or the cleat.
After we emerged at the other end a boat that had just come through the Braunston flight warned us that there was a long queue. It turned out to be about four boats waiting with two moored and locked up that were technically on a 48 hr visitor but obstructing the lock landing. Apparently, at 9 this morning all was well but shortly after then someone reported that there was a problem with the offside top gate - the report we heard was that the balance beam was broken but in fact it was the sacrificial plank that had been sacrificed by a boat making too heavy an impact.
CaRT responded very quickly and staff were on site within an hour. They had to make a short closure around midday of about an hour whilst they removed the damage and prepare d the gate for a replacement. Removing the old bolts was the hardest part. The lock was then re-opened and by the time we passed through they were close to fitting a new plank. To us this seemed a remarkable response and avoided a much longer closure on one of the busiest sections (especially this year with the water shortages elsewhere) and coming up to the Bank Holiday weekend.
We would have been through a lot quicker but they people from the two hire boats that had been moored and locked returned from their three hour stay at the pub and demanded that they go through next, just as we were following the previous pair to the mouth of the lock! We decided that their need must be much greater than ours so ceded way. To add to the issue, they were extremely slow through the locks and took twice as long, with their extensive crew, than the two of us on our own! Sometimes 'less is more'.
By the time we arrived at the fifth lock down, another boat which had taken a short break in the long pound, was now ready to leave and so shared the final two locks with us.Their crew was definitely much more helpful.
Just above a lock we saw this boat. Not really a proper candidate for our Unusual Boats Gallery as the hull is quite grand, a reminder of the shape used for Thames boats but the cabin just not match what might otherwise have been quite elegant.
This meant that Christine was able to leave Mike with them and pop up to the shops. Alas with the delay, by the time she reached there the butcher was close so none of their noted pork pie for lunch tomorrow. However, she did find the other items at the village shop.
After completing the locks Mike left the other boat looking for a mooring and also a water point and he went on to the elsan station where he was fortunate that another boat was just leaving. By the time he had completed the task (slowly!) Christine had returned along the towpath.
We continued for about a mile before find a mooring for the night. Much of the bank along here is badly eroded and there are also more boats moored than usual so we had to take what we could find but at least we were close in and did not need the plank again.
9.1 Miles - 13 Locks
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