Most of the locks we have encountered on the Nene so far have had a guillotine gate at the downstream side, with conventional "vee doors" as they call them as the top gates. The guillotine gate is operated via a control cabinet, unlocked by the Abloy key you need for these EA waterways.
Here I am lowering the gate ready to fill the lock ...
… and here my glamourous assistant Jan has taken over.
Typical Nene scenery.
There is a fair amount of weed, encouraged by the hot weather, no doubt. It often collects at the bow, where I shift it with a stick as we're going along. We collected this little lot just as we were entering the lock; it had cleared itself by the time we exited.
Today we made an early start from opposite Billing Aquadrome, tying up in Wellingborough at 1310. The flour mill is noisy!
Ally and Josiah came to visit in the afternoon; Josiah having great fun in the Splash Park. It has been more humid today, making the heat slightly less comfortable. It was nice to eat outside the boat, Ally and Josiah having stayed for tea.
3 comments:
Whilst on the Nene the signed rule is to leave the bottom gate open whichever way you go, when you reach the Great Ouse, it seems, but no signs, to revert to the common river practice of leaving the exit gate open. The only unmanned lock on the Middle Level link route has one rule but the relief keeper at Stanground told us differently!
On the River Nene: At guillotine gates you must leave the guillotine gate open when leaving. The locks that have pointing doors (gates) at both ends can be left open at either end as you leave.
On the River Great Ouse: Leave the exit gate open whichever way you are going.
Thanks Mike and Paul. I have now got into the habit of checking the top gate paddles are down before emptying the lock. On several occasions one or both have been left up, and on some gates it is impossible to see that is the case.
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