Date - 19 /04/08 Day - Saturday Start - Engine Arm Napton End - The Bridge Inn Napton
Just as we unlocked Harnser a boat that had been coming up the flight winded in the engine arm so I decided to follow him down. This meant we would have time to load the boat from the car while we waited to turn the lock. As we arrived it started to rain and it continued for the rest of the day. We had just finished loading and about to drop the lock when an Ownerships pulled up just below the lock so that was one we didn't need to close behind up. We moored between the bridge and the next lock to sort things out, light the back cabin fire and the stove etc. We set off after a short time and a couple of boats coming up. We arrived at the lock which was empty and there was a boat just entering the next lock down, so we opened the bottom gates and waited for them. They in turn left the next lock ready for us. However the boat behind them had other ideas. Their crew came up to the lock and merrily wound the bottom paddles up to empty the lock, with the top gates still wide open for us. When they realised that the lock wasn't emptying the walked up and shut the top gate. We locked down in the the lock we were in and left the gates open for them and Diana pointed out the other boat had left the lock for us and anyway, you should really make sure that the gates were closed before raising paddles. And no this was not a hire boat. As we approached the next lock a boat was just leaving and their crew went to a lot of trouble closing the gate behind them and in our face. Later we found out that they had also left their keys in the water point by the Folly. All the moorings were full by the Folly so we continued on to The Bridge which was surprisingly empty, so we moored in front of Emma, one of the Navy boats. It wasn't long before the rest of the spaces were full and as I write this the hire boat behind Emma still has their engine running so I am glad Emma was there or they might have been hard behind us on the trip boat mooring.. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Join SOW and help save our waterways http://www.saveourwaterways.net
