Thursday July 25 Down Farmers
Bridge and 8 Aston locks to Aston Cross Business Village visitor
moorings
After our Jazz night, Liana wanted us
to get down the locks early, before it got too hot. However, it was
already sunny when we set off before 0800. We were worried about
Honeypie getting heat stroke, so Liana tried to keep her cool by
making her sit in the shade and wear wet towels. She wasn't happy to
stay on board alone, as the engine sounds frighten her. We soon
established a rhythm, a modus operandi, for working the locks: It's
interesting that this can vary from lock flight to lock flight,
depending on such things as closedness of locks; type of paddles
(gate and/or ground); number of bottom gates (2 usually, 1 on BCN),
lock ladder availability and position of bollards at lock. Liana made
sure the next lock top gate was open, then opened the bottom gates
for John to drive Annie straight into the next lock, close the top
gates, open 1 or 2 bottom paddles and get back on Annie as she
dropped in the lock chamber …... etc.
We completed the 13 farmers bridge
locks by 1015, and John found a shady mooring just past the top of
the Aston flight, on the offside. It was one of those 1980s quality
jobs which have been left unmaintained, sadly. However! First, we got
out shears and yard brush, swept up broken glass, litter and leaves.
Then we spotted a gang of Community Payback young offenders with
their supervisor tidying up, and Liana had a word, after which they
improved on our work. It was too hot to carry on, so we hid from the
sun until 1700 (5pm), when clouds appeared. John backed Annie the
short distance to the Aston top lock, which had its top gate open!
All the locks were set for us, and seven out of eight top gates were
open – we think this may be due to their balance, rather than
boater idleness: Whatever, we were grateful, as it helped us! We
moored on excellent visitor moorings with rings after lock 8/11, by
Aston Cross Business Village. The small shop close by was just
closing, but Liana managed to get us beans, orange squash and two
Classic choc ices – hoorah! It was very quiet, felt safe and we
chatted to a security guard who passed by later. We all cooled down
as the shadows lengthened.
Friday July 26 Aston Cross
Business Village to the Dog & Doublet pub, Bodymoor Heath (9
miles, 14 locks)
Not as hot, but warm. Liana took the train from Aston with Honeypie
to collect the car from rugeley. After completing the last three
Aston locks. John took Annie to Salford Junction and on to the three
Minworth locks. Liana had a yellow cloth for HP (and a lazy eye) and
was treated very well by a lady, who organised help for her at the
next station, believing her to be partially sighted! Liana was
bemused, but loth to be rude, so went along with it – probably
good, as the route to the other platform was indeed weird!
Reaching the Dog & Doublet, Liana walked up the Curdworth locks
to meet John at lock 2. It was not as hot, so HP was ok. Annie was
following a boat, so we had to fill each lock, until we moored on
rings at the end of the moorings before the pub.
“We” decided to go home, but regretted it when we hit all the
Friday night traffic. Started off badly when John put in right
street, but got wrong town on the Sat Nav!! Popped in on Liana's mum
Flo in Nottingham, home by 10pm, thankfully …. and Liana started
the washing!
No comments:
Post a Comment