We had met up with two couples travelling together in two narrowboats. They warned us that lock 91 had a dodgy gate that required eight people to open it. Hubby and I were also travelling with another couple on another boat, sharing the locks, so we made mental note of the horror that awaited us five locks ahead.
Hubby and the other male occupant got creative and tied a long pole with a rope in front of the gap in the broken gate to reduce the amount of water leakage from the lock chamber. That's because we needed the water level in the chamber to be as close to the level of the water in the open canal as possible, and then, with force, try to open the gate.
I dread it whenever I see a written note at a lock.Even though the writings were on the wall, all four of us pushed powerfully, but without even a slight movement, as the water resistance was so strong.
So, our best bet was to wait for another boater to arrive and assist.
Like a convoy, the third couple moored up next to us, and in true camaraderie, all six of us were ready, on our mark, and pushing and pulling forcibly to get the wretched gate open.
I cannot imagine what hubby and I would have done if we had been travelling solo on a quiet day with no other boaters or able pedestrians in sight.
Yes, the River and Canals maintenance crew was working on some locks earlier. However, all six of us were determined to continue our journey, as there was an update that there was maintenance scheduled to be done on lock 91 four days later.
It is amazing what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal. We all agreed that it was a distressing and daunting adventure, but our determination made the day enjoyable and unforgettable.
More arrestingly beautiful nature along the rivers and canals.
Life on the canals is slow, and there's no point in being in a hurry; however, we are on a mission to get our boat onto the Oxford canals as we make our way to the East Midlands, in stages.
In the meantime, I'm capturing shots of nature along the cut of this canal, which has a wild and free look with overgrown shrubs.
It's such a friendly community here on the network, with boaters who look out for each other. Also, the greenery is soothing, and it helps us and other boaters to remain calm when faced with unexpected maintenance and mishaps that happen frequently while afloat.
In the distance across the fields, there is a castle-like-looking building that's framed beautifully by clouds and trees. My curiosity piques, but we carry on going with the flow.
It's our first time in this neck of the woods, but comparing the locks along this network with several of the others that we have travelled, a paradigm shift is needed in the way the canals and rivers are operated, to put some funds into the upkeep of the network.
We love this lifestyle on the canals, and we would happily comply in any way to help the trust improve the experience.
Approaching new territories.
After leaving the Kenneth and Avon Canals, we entered the River Avon and then the River Kenneth in Newbury, where we spent the night.
I walked a long distance along the rivers as my husband cruised along before finding a gap to pull over for me to jump back on. It was relaxing.
Large trees canopied the river banks, which limited the stream of sunshine for our solar panel. However, after long days on the move, our battery power is good for the night until we continue, preferably with one of the other boaters.
This has been a familiar yet mysterious adventure so far. We are learning more about life on the canals and rivers daily, as we improve on our daily schedules. We are excited and looking forward to going onto the River Thames, where I'll share more of my adventures with you.
Milly 🚣♀