Our water tank gauge was showing an alarming lack of bars on its display! We had not been able to top up since Memory Lane Wharf several days ago. As a result we set ourselves quite a challenging schedule - 8 locks before lunch!
When we set off the weather was looming just fine - plenty of bright sky but much cooler temperatures and a welcome fresh breeze, but not so much as to blow off our sun hats!
As we pulled away from the mooring we could see just how clear the water was - even the occasional middle sized fish, but never when the camera could see them!
The first lock of the day was Blue Bank - when built all of today's locks were almost identical but changes over time meant that each posed its own challenges. These days, when possible, Mike will try to fill a lock from the paddles just on the tow path side but here was first issue of the day. Apart from the last lock, none of the top gate paddles admitted water when raised. Originally the gates had simple square holes through which water poured when the paddle otherwise covering it was lifted. This meant that the lock filled quickly but care was needed and signs were posted everywhere warning about the danger of strong flows. Today these signs are frequently quite unnecessary.
So, if the lock would not fill - at least before the end of the day - it was necessary to cross over and lift the other ground paddle. Mostly this is just a matter of extra energy consumption, but a few have very high step up and in at least one case, beyond Mike's present day capability (sympathetic ahh! please)
Earlier this year there have been at least two occasions when low water levels have led to a short closure of the canal to allow them to recover. The next pound was especially low and we crawled along, sometimes hardly moving but eventually getting to the next lock. Over the next few locks, the water level was better and it felt as if Monday morning had brought some water management and that extras supplies were being fed down. After a while that came to an end so perhaps there is a ration for each day.
We noticed a new set of raised beds at Aylestone Mill Lock on the way down in May but did not go across to take a closer look. Today we went across the road bridge and found that they were full of named herbs.
A plaque records the reason for the beds.
Money was raised for this garden by Joan Rowbottom
from the sale of her book on Kings Lock
in memory of her nephew Peter John Muggleton
1966 - 2020
The garden certainly brightens up the lock and we trust that a way will be found to maintain it in the longer term.
At Ervins Lock we were able to recruit an interested walker to close up the top gate after we had left. Both ere then shut but as the photo shows, by the time we had only been about a boat length one was already drifting open.
The bywash to this lock was quite wet indicating that it was not long since it too was passing water downstream. It was only off the top by about 50mm. A couple of pounds had been at least 200mm down on normal level.
The penultimate lock was Double Rail. Since we commented on this name and feature in May (see) we have heard that it is because a footpath right of way pre-dating the canal, passes over the top of the bottom gates. The footpath is clearly well used.
The top gate has strange bolt heads that look as if they once held a thick piece of wood in place, Perhaps this gate also once had two handrails but they were later deemed not necessary.
And so to our last lock - Kilby Lock. The pound from here had especially prolific lilies, the Wild White variety which can be quite pretty compared with the yellow ones Nuphar lutea. Christine insisted that Mike take a photo but this is easier asked than done. Apart from steering in a straight line, the passage of the boat tends to pull the flowers down below the surface. They also make a bigger visual impact to the eye than to the camera.
On reaching Kilby Wharf we immediately pulled onto the service point and connected up to the water tap! Phew! - we did not actually run out. (We do have a very small emergency supply of bottled water but that would only be for hydration breaks - not for washing, ourselves, clothes, cooking and eating utensils or anything else) The elsan was emptied and rubbish of all sorts disposed into the many selective bins that are mandated these days. One of the down sides to this new scheme is in choosing the right size bin to provide for each category. It seems that some are too small (and overflow before the next collection is made) whilst others are almost empty and so comparatively expensive and wasteful of energy - we noticed last time that several different collections are made to cover the range.
As Mike was starting to move to the extensive and well ordered visitor moorings on the opposite side complete with proper bollards, Christine suggested that instead we might go another couple of bridges to the more isolated mooring we used in May. So we did! (But forgot to return the camera to the stern after putting it ready to download the mornings photos)
5.6 Miles - 8 Locks
I imagine your 500mm should read 50mm?
ReplyDeleteTrue - but the variation in water levels was so considerable that sometimes I lost track! . . . But not impossible Today we have seen perhaps 400mm followed by water cascading over the gates. Seems likely that Leicester Branch will go onto 10-3 restricted opening next week,
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam. His wandering finger has a determination to go its own way!
ReplyDelete