THURSDAY. At Dutton Lock, River Weaver
The 2008 trip thus far: 295 Locks; 467Miles; 56 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 20
Just before turning in last night, we walked to the top of Saltersford lock. A narrowboat was tied up against the wall next to the weir. Chatting to the crew, the story unfolded. Briefly, they had brought the boat from Tarleton and were delivering it to Liverpool. The equipment requirements for the Manchester ship canal had been met and the safety certificate accordingly issued. The route was Weaver to Marsh Lock, ship canal to Eastham, then across the Mersey to Coburg Lock.
By now, I was feeling a trifle apprehensive. The owner was to join them for the trip across the Mersey. Discrete (me?) enquiry produced the answer to my apprehension, which resulted in a considerable rise therein. The combined boating experience of the crew, including the owner, was 7 weeks. One school of thought could argue of their bravery. My thoughts were more along the lines ‘where ignorance is bliss’.
This morning, we spent some time chatting to Bryn whilst he was carrying out his lockkeeping duties, setting a large part of the world to rights. As a boat was rising in the lock, we chatted to the owner. We had not heard of the builder until this trip; but had seen another of their boats as we passed Preston Brook and had remarked how good it looked. The owner informed us that he had the boat from new, 18 months ago, had no adjustments, breakages or anything that required attention. A very rare situation indeed, well done, Snug Boats.
It was time to go boating; we set off and tied up at the top of Dutton lock, a journey of 40 minutes. We wandered around after being greeted by the lockie Fred. We asked about the large cylinder reposing on the lock side. It was one of the paddles! The locks have a system much like a bath plug, with the drain underwater at the top of the culvert. The cylinder, with its bottom edge tapered, sits on the drain sealing it. When the cylinder is raised, the gap between the drain and the cylinder allows water to pass. The cylinder is about 6 feet in diameter, about 12 feet long and counterbalanced by two weights attached by chains across pulleys. A failure caused one of these weights to fall to the bottom through the drain, which required the removal of the cylinder.
At the bottom lock mooring, I chatted to the owner of ‘Charlaine’ a beautiful boat with graceful lines, a very early Steve Hudson shell and fit out. Personally, I dislike his present bow shape as too high and exaggerated; this early example was much fuller and gentler in the bow and looked just right. A relief lockie asked his wife on the bow, to breast up with a highly polished portholed boat, already holding against the wall; she pointed out it would be better to tell the steerer as she could not do much from where she was. In the end, they were close to the top gate; and apart from being washed about a bit, made it with no injuries.
Weather- sunshine, very humid, fresh breeze.
