Very weird last night, I went out at about 2200 to check the mooring lines, as all good boaters should do when moored on rivers. To notice the river flowing backwards! Ah I think, must be a tide in excess of the 7.6 meters mentioned yesterday, then I have a think about it and wonder how much rise and fall there will be (important if you want the mooring lines to cope) I think it will only be about half a meter so reasonably happy I go to bed. To not sleep very well as I'm worrying about the boat being ok on the bit of tide we were getting. I even went out at 0200 ish to check! Everything was of course fine!
I leave in plenty of time to catch the 0945 lock at Gloucester, this allows me not to worry about being late (so I worry about being too early) and gives the batteries a bit more time to get back towards fully charged. All is well with life, it's a bit windy but the high banks give good shelter and I soon arrive at the Upper Parting (where the Severn splits into an East channel (for Gloucester Lock) and a West (Maisemore Weir) We take the appropriate channel and I decide to call the lock on the VHF - no response! I try again with the same result and decide that the high banks are probably the reason. So to the phone - no signal, hmm, reboot phone and signal appears so call lock. "You're where" he said, "I'm halfway down the East Channel" I reply, "You do know there's a tide due right now" he said with a note of concern in his voice, he continued to explain "It's not the flow that's your problem, but all the debris it'll bring over the weir!" So I now take on a feeling of some concern as to what is about to become of me! The lock keeper continues "Get a move on and I'll have the lock all ready for you, call me when you come under the bridges" So, with more throttle than I've used in a while, I get a move on. There is still no sign of the dreaded impending disastrous tide and the welcome sight of the bridges soon appear. The requested call is made, the lock is all ready he said and as I round the corner the lock wall appeared with the even more welcome sight of the gates opening and the green light coming on. So in I glide to be informed that it didn't quite reach the predicted height (tide that is) and is now on the ebb. I jumped onto the roof and put the centreline round the indicated slider to be told by the keeper that he was impressed, most single handers make a right mess of that! So feeling safe and smug! I pour coffee from the flask and sit on the roof with the centreline to await the paddles being opened.
Up we went and into the docks:
This is one of those places I just love to be, a really great setting. So pictures taken, coffee finished and off to town for supplies for the coming weekend, it'll seem a bit odd to have people to talk to! A welcome shower and off to meet Stephen at the station this afternoon - and check out the local Indian restaurants of course!
The weather is not looking too good though! Could put the mockers on the intended passage to Bristol, tomorrow will tell!
Today: 5 miles - 1 lock - 1.5 hours
So Far: 113 miles - 125 locks - 63.5 hours
No comments:
Post a Comment