Just back from the trip. What a wonderful weekend! I set off an hour early from work on Friday to move Boden a bit nearer to Sharpness, as we were expecting to need to be ready for the low-level bridge opening at 09:30. Moored on the towpath side at Patch Bridge, giving us just the Purton bridges to pass the next morning before arriving at Sharpness. Cycled back to the car, surprising a BW bridgekeeper and a couple of passing boats on the way.
Back home to help with daughter's primary school disco. Ended up drinking beer in the playground with the headmaster who was hitting the gin. The kids seemed better behaved than usual. Gave daughter away to friends for the weekend, and returned with wife and son to the boat, stopping in at the Tudor Arms for a pint before unloading the car. A quiet night followed. We were awakened the next morning at 08:00 by son Frank making us a cup of tea. He must be after something. Untied at 0820, along with two cruisers who were making the trip to Lydney with us. A pleasant run down to Purton Upper, where we drifted around for fifteen minutes waiting for the bridgekeeper to notice us. Tricky holding position in the breeze, we ended up doing some high speed reversing to get more space and bring the boat on line. Eventually passed both bridges, and noticed a bloke with a tripod and attractive young lady near the old railway bridge tower. She looked as if she might not have anything much on under her fleece and wellies. This was eventually confirmed by an earlier boat, who found her wearing nowt but a flotation aid. This was said to be unnecessary as she already was well equipped with flotation aids. At least she and Mr Tripod waved nicely at Frank and me. Tied up next to Api Wanderer on the sani station pontoon at Sharpness, and eventually the BW bridge opener did his stuff and three narrow boats, a wide-beam and a few cruisers moved down to the huge lock. We had nearly two hours to wait for the tide, so drank coffee and chatted in the sunshine, occasionally walking down to the pier to look at the waves on the river. Scary! At last the lock let us down, and then we were off. Only two cruisers and two nbs were heading for Lydney, the rest were going down to Portishead. The wind by now must have been around force 4, and blowing against the tide. As we rounded the pierhead, the current took us rapidly upstream, the gps indicating around fifteen km/h over the ground. The boat was handling nicely, but yawing considerably in the waves coming from the side. Frank was looking rather terrified in the rear hatch with me, while the missus was looking green and hanging on to the edge of the cabin roof at the front. After about ten minutes, we reached much calmer water on the W bank and headed down river. At this point, we were about 1 km up from Lydney Harbour. We kept about 20 m out from the shore, and were making good speed - about 10 - 11 km/h over the ground. The water on this side was pretty slack, and on reflection I think we were travelling faster than normal for the engine speed due to the boat floating higher in the salt water. We moved out as we passed the headland just above Lydney, where turbulence suggested that the water might be shallower. We subsequently noted a couple of rocky outcrops there at low tide. Api Wanderer meanwhile was taking a more direct course around 100 m out, but we caught them just outside the Lydney pier head. We rounded the head into the harbour, with crowds lining the side and the brass band playing. What an entrance! The two cruisers followed us in, and we tied up below the lock in the harbour waiting for the EA harbour master to do his stuff. After a short wait, we were through into the inner harbour, did a lap of the moored boats in the centre and breasted up to two nbs near the lock. The Lydney Harbour is a beautifully restored area. The EA in partnership with the local authorities have worked hard here to make it an asset to the town. Beyond the swing bridge at the top of the moorings, Piddocks Canal runs for about 1500 m in water. On the E side, the footpath has open views across the estuary to the Severn Bridges. The sky seems huge, and over the weekend was completely free of clouds. I went to relieve the staff manning the IWA stall and spent a couple of hours selling stuff steadily before the crowds thinned and we packed up for the day. There were plenty of visitors, good entertainment and a sprinkling of stalls. Back to the boat, and enjoyed a cycle ride along the canal to the end, and back around the harbour. After a shower, we returned to the action. The beer (Freeminer Speculation) was cheap, and as the evening wore on much was consumed. We enjoyed a bring and share BBQ, before Frank and the missus decided that they had had enough. Off to bed at about 23:00. Sunday morning saw us rise late. Not much on the boat to eat as we'd left home without much thought. Breakfasted on what we could find: in this case, melon balls in port, followed by rice cakes spread with a mash of tomato, garlic and olive oil. Yummy! We eventually moved through into the lower basin and tied up to the harbour wall in a raft of six boats. Much discussion as to the best time to leave. A large bulk carrier was expected in Sharpness Dock on our tide, and had to be allowed in first. Various 'phone calls and radio messages revealed that this was the largest ship to come into the docks in memory, and there was some nervousness as to whether she would fit into the lock. We had decided to depart at about 12:10, with high water expected at 12:34. The big ship eventually passed at 12:15, and we followed out at 12:22, at the back of the stream of nbs heading across river. The win was much lighter than the previous day, and we were heading into the waves making the passage much pleasanter. The big boat was still painfully slowly making its way into the tidal basin at Sharpness, and the sight of nine narrowboats holding position against the tide in the vast expanse of water was slightly bizarre. The crossing to the mouth of the dock took about eight minutes. We had taken a more southerly course than the other boats, and held position below the pier heads, the gps proving its worth in telling us that we were stationary over the ground. I was getting slightly nervous, as the tide was definitely slackening, and we were needing less and less engine power to hold position. Eventually I slackened the engine to tick over and dropped up river to outside the dock entrance, ready in case the tide turned. By 1245 the big boat had more or less squeezed into the lock, and Sharpness radio invited us in. We swung into the dock mouth, in the middle of a procession of narrowboats, and tied up on the tidal pontoon. The big boat needed more water in the lock to get over the sill, so the sea gates were closed and water run into the basin to lift her up. After an hour or so, she was clear of the lock and the rest of us were locked up to canal level. A pleasant run back to Patch Bridge, where we collected the car and returned home. No sign of Mr Tripod and his little friend today. Lydney Harbour is a "must" destination for the bolder boater. The yacht club who hosted us were wonderfully welcoming, and the EA impressively helpful. Wassail! -- Martin E Phillips http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk Homebrewing, black pudding, boats, morris dancing, ham radio and more! The Gloucester-Sharpness canal web page http://www.glos-sharpness.org.uk ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/ygtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
