Date - 10/08/08 Day - Sunday Start - 0915 End - 1630 by Kingswood Junction
Harnser's present position http://tinyurl.com/Harnser-s-route One or two boats had passed before we set off but we kept "in contact" with the boat that pulled away in front of us so hopefully we could share the locks. Our first upset came at Warwick where boats outside the broadbeam boat builders are moored 3 abreast leaving about 11 ft of open water. The boat we were following went through but we had to stop as a boat called Tui was coming the other way, he just came through the gap and then reversed back into it and hopped off leaving a 4ft channel. I went to ask him what he was doing and his boat was still in reverse, infact where ever he put the gear change he was in reveres. he switched the engine off and we pulled the boat out of the gap so we could get on. I don't know what would happen if a wide beam boat wanted to get through. We caught up with the other boat at the locks and went in with them only for them to tell us they were traveling with the boat ahead and were stopping after the next lock so they went ahead and joined their friends in the next lock and we waited for a boat that had shown up below the lock. We did one lock with them and they went into the Saltesford Arm. We arrived at the first of the Hatton flight to find a boat "My Way" waiting and a boat coming down. once the lock was empty they waved me in first, I suggested entering together but no they wanted me in first. Once in we had a chat and they suggested breasting the boats and taking the pair up together, so that's what happened, I went, Vic went ahead Di and I worked them up and Cath drove the boats. We had a good run with the locks with us and meeting boats in the right places until well past half way when we caught up with 3 boats in the two locks ahead which slowed things down. The weather did everything, heavy rain, warm and sweaty, even a bit of sun. After reaching the top we carried on to The Tom O the Wood where we hopped to eat, but its closed so it was on just passed Kingswood Junction to The Navigation. Tomorrow I will have to reverse back a quarter of a mile to the junction to turn off up the North Stratford canal. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Join SOW and help save our waterways http://www.saveourwaterways.org
