3rd July 2011 - Sunday lunch

Because I couldn't be arsed to cruise any more yesterday afternoon, I had my alarm set for 0600, so I woke up at 0530!! So, coffee on, flask filled and off on the short trip to Marlow lock, where I discover why it's a bad idea to arrive at a Thames lock before 0700! I tie the boat up on the landing to realise that this landing is an island, there is no way to access the lock! Hmmm... ok, nudge the boat to the available 10 feet by the lock, sort of bodge it there and go to operate lock. Now to the discovery, there is no power to the controls, a light comes on in distant part of brain, no public power until 0700, bugger! So we manually close the bottom paddles, not too bad, open top paddles, ok, lock full, open gates, bloody hell my arms are getting tired! Manoeuvre boat into lock and secure, close gates and paddles, jeez I wish I'd waited till 0700! Raise a bit of bottom paddle and give up as boat is descending, lock empty, open gates - where's the nearest hospital? Drive out of lock, there's no way I'm stopping to drop the paddles and close the gates, mind you, the power will be on in 10 minutes!

Lesson learnt, Thames locks are to be left well alone when they have no power.

Dripping in sweat I gently cruise by Longridge and Bourne End, it's a beautiful morning again. Under the tiny Cookham Bridge and into the lock cut where I see a green parrot being chased around by a crow. To the lock, power now on, so a delight to work, it's a very peaceful spot here. On by Clivedon and some nice looking moorings on the islands, not sure there's room for us though. Boulters lock appears and a narrowboat is just driving in, I go in alongside to find it's 'Prudence' who we first encountered at Bourton, north of Banbury a week or so ago. Pleasantries exchanged and the keeper shows up and works us down. This chap's a bit happier with life, I don't know what it is, but the majority of the keepers this year do not seem as content with life as they were last year! I tie up on the 24 hour moorings just below the lock. Sunday lunch is at Mum's!

Boulters Lock:

Brunel's famous 'Sounding Arches'

I spent a lot of my early days fishing here!

Lunch done, I return to the boat with Son David and off we go at 1530. A gentle cruise past all the posh houses to Bray lock, where there seemed to be a rather large queue of boats! So we hovered (the landing was full) and a few boats went in, we got the bow to the end of the landing to discover there had been a power failure and the lock was being operated manually - two in one day - what's going on? The EA guys were doing a magnificent job, there were quite a few, organising boats to get as many in as possible and winding that wheel, that is hard work! All with jokes and smiles. Of course a lot of boats were returning from Henley, so there were a lot more than normal. We eventually got down after an hour and a half wait, so fearful of not finding a mooring in Windsor I decided to stop at a vacant spot near Bray Studios, I'm getting good and deciding on moorings now! Just have to get a shift on tomorrow, I need to get to Teddington!

Today:     9 miles -     4 locks -     5.5 hours
So Far: 348 miles - 287 locks - 177.5 hours