Monday 14th May 2012
Bardeny Lock Visitor Moorings to Langrick Bridge.
Time to move on again. We have enjoyed our stay in Bardney and we will be staying again for a few more days on our return journey. Friendly people on the permanent moorings and the facilities in the sanitary station is well maintained. We need to take on water as our tank is just about empty. Before heading further down the River Witham towards Boston. We can have a shower in the facilities at the same time.
Bardney Lock has a problem, the up stream gates do not shut correctly. Water cascades under the gates above the cill. We could not get a level to let us open the bottom gates. I was about to ring BW when one of the locals comes along and shakes one side of the top gates and suddenly the gates moved together and sealed. He said he had reported the issue to BW several times, but BW insists that there is no problem. However water was pushing up over a foot above the lock level and creating large waves in the lock chamber.
After a while we were on our way, when the heavens opened. The Memsahib was busy preparing something to eat. So we stopped for lunch at Southrey Moorings. Afterwards we rolled on down the river passing a few moored boats and a couple going the other way. This really is a quiet river.
We stopped at Langrick Bridge to get a replacement gas bottle and as before, we liked it so much we decided to stay for the night.
Bardney Lock has a problem, the up stream gates do not shut correctly. Water cascades under the gates above the cill. We could not get a level to let us open the bottom gates. I was about to ring BW when one of the locals comes along and shakes one side of the top gates and suddenly the gates moved together and sealed. He said he had reported the issue to BW several times, but BW insists that there is no problem. However water was pushing up over a foot above the lock level and creating large waves in the lock chamber.
After a while we were on our way, when the heavens opened. The Memsahib was busy preparing something to eat. So we stopped for lunch at Southrey Moorings. Afterwards we rolled on down the river passing a few moored boats and a couple going the other way. This really is a quiet river.
We stopped at Langrick Bridge to get a replacement gas bottle and as before, we liked it so much we decided to stay for the night.
Wildlife: During our walk yesterday I remarked to the Memsahib that the habitat around here is perfect for Short Eared Owls. This morning we took the dogs for a walk along the towpath and we were treated to the sight of a Short Eared Owl creating mayhem and confusion amongst a group of pigeons. Short eared Owls are diurnal, they are happy to hunt during the day or at night.
Now we have a new neighbour in the form of a Great Crested Grebe who is sat on her nest. We did not see her when we arrived. So now we are trying not to disturb her by going outside. When I went out to put up the TV antenna, by making all movement slow, she sat tight on the nest.
Now we have a new neighbour in the form of a Great Crested Grebe who is sat on her nest. We did not see her when we arrived. So now we are trying not to disturb her by going outside. When I went out to put up the TV antenna, by making all movement slow, she sat tight on the nest.
Daily Total
Miles: 19.3
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 1
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 5.3
Miles: 19.3
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 1
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 5.3
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 719.0
Miles: 719.0
Locks: 653
Swing / Lift Bridges: 116
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2119.9
Bardney Lock has had that problem for as long as we have moored on the river, getting on for four years now. BW dont seem to think it is an issue but if you look closley at the balance beams you can see where people kick them to shut them properly.
ReplyDeleteAt least the gates are well balanced though and not hard work unlike some we have come across.
Hi "R". You passed us at Bardney lock on Sunday morning. I was just getting out of the shower at the time. Mags said she gave you a wave.
ReplyDeleteThe lock gates need some attention and the amount of water coming under the gate made me think that the cill was breaking up. We saw the aftermath of a collapsed cill at Gargrave last year. I don't want to be in a lock when that happens.
Mick n Mags