Wednesday 6th May, above Rushey Lock
The wind became so strong yesterday afternoon, that I moved the boat just around the corner where some trees on the opposite bank provied shelter – what a difference, the grass was hardly moving although the noise in the trees was quite something.
This morning at 9.05am, it was still blowing very hard as we cast off for Grafton Lock, one mile downstream where we passed the time of day with Keith the lock keeper who had given us some Rhubarb on our way up. (it was delicious)
He will be retiring in two years time and it will certainly be a wrench for him to leave his cottage, isolated it may be, but that suits him just fine with his waterproofed Land Rover for access during the flooded days. He has worn wellingtons when driving before now as the water has been over the Land Rover floor.
Under the narrow arch of Radcot Bridge; it was interesting with the strong wind and current from behind us. Emerging on the other side we met Gresham, a shared ownership narrowboat that was preparing to move off; we would wait at Radcot lock for them.
The relief keeper there asked me where in Derbyshire we came from, as his mother in law lives in Buxton.
We suggested to the crew of Gresham that they could leave the lock before us, as we were mooring before the next one. As things transpired, it was a good decision.
I was following them around the many twists and turns that the Thames insists on making between these two locks. I noticed that they had gone around a bend and come to an abrupt stop. Approaching them at a slow speed, I saw that they had passed a Red navigation buoy on the right hand side when travelling downstream: not a good idea as they had verified that it was indeed shoal between the buoy and the river bank.
They had their propeller in reverse, but could not get the boat to move back at all; they had been going quite fast when they ran aground.
I managed to stop, back up and move our fore end slowly to the back end of their boat where Myra took their rope, passed it around our T stud and gave it back. I reversed Martlet, our oversized propeller and Yanmar engine did the trick, pulling them well back in order to clear the buoy on the correct side.
They went on their way; we moored up shortly after and waited in vain for the sunny afternoon promised by the Met office. I wonder, does the trade descriptions act apply to weather forecasts?
2009 Totals – Locks 154; Miles 230.5; Bus pass uses 2.
