We left Cowley at 7:40. Yes it was still raining, but this time the Captain was adequately dressed. Our first objective was Tesco at Bulls Bridge. This is the local Tesco for Southall and it feels like being in India when shopping. Pat had a large list so went ahead whilst I got busy filling with water from a very slow tap. Once back on the boat Pat made all the shopping disappear into its respective nooks and crannies whilst we proceeded on to Norwood Top Lock, and the rain stopped. There was a notice there saying that proceeding beyond Lock 97 (bottom of the flight) was not advised due to the River Brent being in flood. Never one to take such notices at face value I phoned Thames Lock for advice. The lock keeper had no knowledge of this notice and knew that other boats had had no problems, so we decided to stop at Lock 92 and have lunch and whilst Pat was getting this ready I would walk down and have a look. Really the River was running brown water, but nothing to worry about compared with our experiences on the Kennet & Avon. There was, however, a Wyvern Boat stuck on the bank of debris that builds up in the eddy where the river comes in, almost at right angles to the canal. Nothing I could do about that, but prepared to give them a hand once we had got down. They were aground, but as it turned out their real problem was a duvet on the propeller which they had dealt with eventually. We met them and exchanged stories passing on the flight. At Clitheroe's Lock there was the usual mess of debris washed down by the River with several tree trunks and branches almost blocking the lock entrance. By sneaking the boat round and blocking the lock throat ingress of the obstructions was prevented. Arrival at Brentford Basin at 14:40.
. Clitheroe's Lock Entrance. As the paddles are lifted the water flow would tend to drag all this debris up to the gates. Positioning the boat here stopped that.
Brentford Visitor Moorings: Usually busy and space at a premium. We are moored beyond the blue broadbeam. The blue wide beam and the boat in front of us kindly moved a couple of feet each for us to squeeze in. The new apartments and the pontoon paid moorings are on the left.
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