Mind you we do meet some share boaters at locks who think they are the bees
knees. At one the wife asked a chap who raced up from a share not to wind
paddles as she does it her way. (It being a lock that can move you about a lot
if the paddles are slapped up.)
Far from having a rest and chatting he marched off - to be replaced by his
wife who, for some reason reminded me of Anthea Turner in her body language -
even though she was dark haired. Being on the boat I could not hear what she
said but the wife filled me in later...
The lady proceeded to lecture the wife (who kept stum and worked the boat
through). Each statement was made as though they were Gospel. They included -
- You just wind all the paddles straight up - it is up to the steerer to
control the boat if they are up to it!
- Trying to tell MY husband what to do is stupid. He was in the (merchant?)
navy for 10 years and has been through the Panama canal many times. He says
this is a doddle compared to the work he did to get through them!
There was a lot more of the same and finally the wife could stand it no more
and roared with laughter. At this the lady informed her that ' You are a very
rude person. Do not come on OUR canal again' Old Mrs rude said nowt and, as she
had finished working the lock, and stepped on the boat as it passed.
even at Yahoo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi,
The point you made at the end of your email is quiet important as it does seem
to be the privatly owned boats that appear to cause the most problems or that
is what I have found, very rarely do they give way at bridge holes or slow down
passing moored boats and they really don't have any excuse ? or do they ?.
where the hire boats at least have that in their favour ?
Quote "What grieved me even more was that both husband and wife
were wearing T & M society T shirts!
john H" End Quote
----- Original Message -----
From: jhar1945
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 2:13 PM
Subject: [canals-list] Re: Canal Etiquette
> Once we are on the canal (not often enough as work gets in the
way) we are in relaxed mode.
> Last week we had people close lock gates on us as we approached &
several other annoying instances but it just goes over my head, im in
no rush.
> This is going to happen more (lock rage) as the canals get busier.
> People who want to rush should use motorways :)
>
I'm beginning to wonder whether, with the rising cost of hiring, the
imminence of pension and the attitude of some on the canals today
the time is approaching for giving up and living on the memories of
the 60s, 70s and 80s when everyone had more time and the whole
emphasis was on being mutually helpful.
In this relaxed mode I was once waiting to rise in a wide lock -
after entering (being single handed) a crew appeared at the top,
slammed the bottom gate behind me and (as I was climbing the ladder
with two ropes and a windlass in my hand) threw both the top paddles
up and I was left doing the splits as the boat drifted away from the
ladder. What grieved me even more was that both husband and wife
were wearing T & M society T shirts!
john H
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