Monday 8th August 2006 Limehouse to Northolt 25 miles, 13 locks Ram, a friend from work, came to join me today. He arrived nicely at 09:40, and so had chance to have a quick look around first. We were second lock out, and entered the lock at about 10:00. As we descended the assistance lock keeper shouted "It's a shame to see you go, we feel like we are loosing our Sanity!". I suspect Bruce gets this all the time. I asked Bruce if he wanted to lead up the river, and he took the challenge.
The river was as choppy as usual, but the biggest waves were from a medium sized speedboat not quite going fast enough to get on the plane. Somewhere around Waterloo Bruce slowed down as a tug and tow turned in front. I continued my speed as I knew we wouldn't catch it up, and remained in front for the rest of the journey. We had no problems at Westminster, but then the Parliament would be on their summer hols. Further down the river, another push tow (possibility the same one) crossed the river behind us, and then proceeded to over take us again. We then saw them pulling into the Recycling centre not far away. There were some tugs pulling barges full of sand, which seemed to be for a place near to the recycling centre, but I'm not sure if this is long term traffic. The flow on the river didn't seem that fast, and we were making about 7.5 mph, where I was making about 5.3 mph in the water. I'm not sure at what state of tide the river runs the fastest. Further up the river calmed down, and only the occasional ferry boat passed. At Kew Railway Bridge I managed to get something else around the prop. I tried to get it off, it nearly stalled the engine, but the SR3 kept going, and after changing gear from forward to reverse with some revs on, what ever it was fell off. We reached Brentford, and after saying my goodbyes to Sanity, we headed for the GU again. It was 13:00, and with the first lock of boats just ahead, I suspect Sanity would easily get into the same lock at Teddington. I moored above the Gauging lock, and we had lunch, and a rest after running the engine near flat-out for the last few hours. It was getting on for 14:30 by the time we left when a boat came southbound. They asked if there was anywhere to moor up further down. They wanted to get out to go up the river, but I didn't know if they would get through Thames Locks before the tide turned. I said there were plenty of moorings down there, and that they could always turn, and come back up to the dock if they had to wait until tomorrow. We had a good run up the first few locks, as they were already empty. Later up the flight some were fuller, and so I sent Ram up to empty the locks while I closed up my lock. We reached Northolt at 18:30, but I had to turn the boat, and Ram had left his bicycle behind a church near Black Horse Bridge because he had forgotten to take a lock. I dropped him off after I turned there, and on the way back decided to have a look into Lyons Dock, as earlier Bruce mentioned it would be a good way to be up on the TNC! Once in the dock, there was plenty of room to turn, but I didn't quite make it in one. The depth was OK, but some silting in the north of basin. A boat I saw coming towards me down the straight passed with a wave, and proceeded to leave back to my moorings. I had a chat with my good friend Howard on one of the boats at Northolt, then tied up and collapsed in a heap to watch some TV. A good time, it seems, was had by all. Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring.zapto.org/ 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/
