Watt Knot Travels
Pulling into Braunston on Sunday, we sauntered up to the first lock of a flight of 6 we would do battle with on Monday. Hmmm, double locks not my favourite as some of those gates no matter how I jump, pull, push I just can't budge. Successful lock gate opening depends on size, weight, gate treads, height of the gate beam & the ability to "put your back into it". Worst scenario - a hefty double lock gate where the gate beam is too low & close to the lock chamber to use your back & legs against the beam. If the treads are too worn or spaced incorrectly, you can't get foot grip & you are doomed to failure. SOS on the walkie talkie time. It wasn't looking promising as we stood watching 3 boy scouts on one gate beam struggling to open the gate.
You have lucky days on the cut when things are in your favour & days when everything is against you & takes twice as long. Lucky me, the volunteer Lockies were manning Lock 1 & the rest were manageable & all set in our favour. The day is looking up. 3 more obstacles to conquer. Braunston & Crick tunnels were our first 2 way tunnels & felt strange entering tunnels when you can see oncoming boats. The tunnels really are not very wide. The volunteer lockies were out on the Watford Locks which is a series of 7 locks including a staircase lock of 4. Another dislike of mine as concentration needed. To add, the white & red paddles were in operation, another first for me (red first followed by white). We arrived, reported to the Lockkeeper & waited our turn which took 2 hours before we entered the 1st lock. We were 4th in line going up & were told the queue can extend to 20 boats when Crick is over. 16km, 13 locks & 2 tunnels = 6 hours.
Massive Monday was followed by cleaning Tuesday & Wednesday, painting Thursday & Friday. Phew! All for Crick to get Watt Knot looking her best. My reward arrived on Saturday, when granddad Rob brought Cooper to help with a few final adjustments. We fed ducks, checked out Cookie Monster & despite not having avacado or the right butter for his sandwich he gave the thumbs up for our boat.
Total Lock Count
295
Visitors
Rob & Cooper Howdle, Paul (Ortomarine)
Mark Langley (Waterways World)
Karen Warren
44 chapters
15 Apr 2020
Week 43 - Mammoth Monday
Yelvertoft
Pulling into Braunston on Sunday, we sauntered up to the first lock of a flight of 6 we would do battle with on Monday. Hmmm, double locks not my favourite as some of those gates no matter how I jump, pull, push I just can't budge. Successful lock gate opening depends on size, weight, gate treads, height of the gate beam & the ability to "put your back into it". Worst scenario - a hefty double lock gate where the gate beam is too low & close to the lock chamber to use your back & legs against the beam. If the treads are too worn or spaced incorrectly, you can't get foot grip & you are doomed to failure. SOS on the walkie talkie time. It wasn't looking promising as we stood watching 3 boy scouts on one gate beam struggling to open the gate.
You have lucky days on the cut when things are in your favour & days when everything is against you & takes twice as long. Lucky me, the volunteer Lockies were manning Lock 1 & the rest were manageable & all set in our favour. The day is looking up. 3 more obstacles to conquer. Braunston & Crick tunnels were our first 2 way tunnels & felt strange entering tunnels when you can see oncoming boats. The tunnels really are not very wide. The volunteer lockies were out on the Watford Locks which is a series of 7 locks including a staircase lock of 4. Another dislike of mine as concentration needed. To add, the white & red paddles were in operation, another first for me (red first followed by white). We arrived, reported to the Lockkeeper & waited our turn which took 2 hours before we entered the 1st lock. We were 4th in line going up & were told the queue can extend to 20 boats when Crick is over. 16km, 13 locks & 2 tunnels = 6 hours.
Massive Monday was followed by cleaning Tuesday & Wednesday, painting Thursday & Friday. Phew! All for Crick to get Watt Knot looking her best. My reward arrived on Saturday, when granddad Rob brought Cooper to help with a few final adjustments. We fed ducks, checked out Cookie Monster & despite not having avacado or the right butter for his sandwich he gave the thumbs up for our boat.
Total Lock Count
295
Visitors
Rob & Cooper Howdle, Paul (Ortomarine)
Mark Langley (Waterways World)
1.
Week 8 - Ready, Set, Go!
2.
Week 9 - Thar She Blows!
3.
Week 10 - SOS, Stuck in Lock 5
4.
Week 11 - Don't Look Down
5.
Week 12 - Blowin' in the Wind
6.
Week 13 - Abandoned Boat
7.
Week 14 - Dilemna
8.
Week 15 - A Night at the Museum
9.
Week 16 - Cow Whisperer
10.
Week 17 - In Lockdown
11.
Week 18 - Country Life
12.
Week 19 - We Made the News
13.
Week 20 - What a Star!
14.
Week 21 - Uninvited Guest
15.
Week 22 - Christmas Escape
16.
Week 23 - Otter Delight
17.
Week 24 - London Calling
18.
Week 25 - Mission Possible
19.
Week 26 - Cool Birthday
20.
Week 27 - That White Stuff
21.
Week 28 - Frozen
22.
Week 29 - DRS ABCD
23.
Week 30 - How did we get here?
24.
Week 31 - Captains Mate
25.
Week 32- We Have a Secret!
26.
Week 33 - Escape from Stalag 13
27.
Week 34 - Plans Scuttled
28.
Week 35 - About Face
29.
Week 36 - Picking Up Strangers
30.
Week 37 - Peak View
31.
Week 38 - Farewell to the Mac
32.
Week 39 - Pottering Around
33.
Week 40 - Murder on the Cut
34.
Week 41 - Screws Loose
35.
Week 42 - Sent to Coventry
36.
Week 43 - Mammoth Monday
37.
Week 44 - Crick Part 1 My Favourite Numpty
38.
Week 45 - Crick Part 2 Living the Dream with Ortomarine
39.
Week 46 - Stuck on You
40.
Week 47 - Stairway to Heaven
41.
Week 48 - Tudor Times
42.
Week 49 - The Avon Express
43.
Week 50 - I'm a Tradie
44.
Epilogue
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