Just in case we might be able to accelerate our return home by catching the tide on Tuesday, we left early - just before 7:00. Pat went to the lock to grapple with the electronic controls for the "out of hours power". However, she reported that nothing worked. Then whilst waiting for me she decided to use the manual wheel (96 turns to open a gate). Then precisely at 7:00 the power available light came on. There is one of these boxes at each end of the lock, but they are interlocked so that it is not possible to open paddles at each end (as I have seen a lock-keeper do!). There is a small point which catch catch out the novice however. The gates will only open if the paddles are up. I arrived at Abingdon lock early one morning and found the lock empty and ostensibly ready for me but I couldn't get the gates to open. Much time was wasted running back and forth between each end of the lock thinking that the problem was at the other end. Finally it dawned on me. Just pretend the lock is full and raise the paddles - an automatic 4 minute timed staged process once the button is pressed. Some locks have no public power and for them the wheel and much winding is required, like the next lock we came to - Shiplake.
At Marlow Lock we were forced to wait while a three large cruisers were let down but were entranced by a mother grebe and her two young chicks riding on her back, then being thrown off and being taught to dive. Dad then arrived with some food for them. (Click on the picture to enlarge). Finally we made Windsor. Pat wanted a bottle of milk, but before we could get that we saw a dutch barge belonging to one of our CUTWEB friends and stopped for a chat and peep at the boat. If wanting to live on a boat, this must be the way. So much more room. Mooring was a bit of a problem. The field on the Eton side was nearly full and an attempt to moor in the only gap got us firmly aground about four feet from the bank. After poleing off we eventually got a spot nearer the railway bridge and potentially quieter. There was a fairground operating inn the field.
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