We had an another warm night last night, dinner at 8 with it starting to cool down by 9. A shower at 10 cooled me down enough for sleep. We are usually up by 6, this morning was no exception, and cruising by 7 to keep out the sun as much as possible. Our first lock was Bowers, let me take you thru it..

This is Bowers from my perspective, I’ve dropped Hazel off at the lock landing and enter via the bottom gates. We know the gates are hard to do, so I motor to the top gates, fasten the boat and climb out via the slimy ladder set in muddy walls.

Once Hazel and I have closed the bottom gates, it requires both of us with maximum effort, I climb back in and Hazel pulls me back towards the bottom gates. We fasten the bowline to a bollard, loop the stern line around another bollard and I hang on the end.

Hazel then goes to the top gates, checks that we are both happy with the lines, and cracks open the top paddle on my side of the lock. Immediately water starts filling the lock pushing the boat back, then forwards as the water bounces off the bottom gates. I control all the movement with my stern rope.

These locks are about 75 feet long, 15 feet wide and up to 15 feet deep. With both paddles open they could fill in 5 minutes ! That’s why it’s imperative to rope up and take it slowly. Sadly some people believe they can do it quickly, usually resulting in flooded boats, damaged gates and occasionally drownings. You can never take them for granted. The noise is tremendous as well, we have a system of hand signals for various operations, including emergency paddle closure, thankfully only used once when a line got caught and the boat started listing.

Once the initial surge is over, and 1 top paddle fully open, Hazel comes back and tighten the bowline, This ensures I have enough stern line to keep the boat central as the water level rises.

Walking across the top gates she then opens the second paddle. By then the boat is emerging from the lock, and I can step off on the opposite side to Hazel.

The last couple of inches always seems to take the longest, but until the water is level with the river you can’t open them !

Once level we open the gates both sides, wind down the paddles to close them, and I coil the lines as Hazel makes her way back. Then start the engine, and exit the lock, usually with a boat waiting to go thru in the opposite direction.

Of course sometimes the lock is set against you, it’s in full sun or you have to share. All part of the fun, the maximum we’ve done is 21 in one day……hard yakka 😀

We’ve used the services at Dapdune Wharf, done a bit of shopping at M&S, and are now moored at our usual spot in Guildford Meadows. It’s definitely cooler and there’s a nice breeze, where’s that ice cream……