Tuesday 26 March 2019

Hatton Locks; keys lost and found

We had a good road all the way up the Hatton flight this morning, with all the locks being empty or very nearly so.

We quickly settled into a routine whereby Margaret and Jan steered Blue Iris and Jubilee in synchronism into the locks while Robert and I worked the locks. I cycled on ahead each time to set the next lock.

About half way up a CRT chap approached us and said he would set ahead for us, so that made things even easier.

In the remains of the original narrow lock at Lock 38 I saw this old sunk wooden boat.

I don't recall seeing this before - perhaps the pound was lower than usual.

It took us 2 hours 35 mins to do the 21 locks. At the top we tied up for coffee, then went to the Top Lock Café for lunch. I had a good mega all day breakfast with excellent bacon.

As Blue Iris was about to set off there was a bit of commotion - Robert had dropped his keys into the cut. He tried to fish them out with his round magnet but couldn't find them, so I used my Sea Searcher and got them on the second sweep. His keys had one of those devices which are supposed to inflate when they get wet ... only it didn't work. We gave them a spare float. Old technology, but reliable!

On the stretch heading for Kingswood Junction there are two more virtually derelict boats.

Ah! Back to narrow locks again.

Tomorrow we'll be back in Brum. I think a meal at Sweet Chillies calls.

3 comments:

Nev Wells said...

Good to be reading your boaty blogs again....

Brian and Diana on NB Harnser said...

I have never seen those boat remains in the single lock so as you say must be a low pound. As for the pair of boats, they were for sale a couple of years back, probably £10K but they require so much work.

nb Bonjour said...

We noticed those boats had new number plates screwed to the motor one so perhaps they are now a project!
Nice to see you the other day
Debby