Hurley

Hurricane Nadine remnants were forecast to hit us today and sure enough at about 10:30 the rain started.   The first two locks we had done self service including the large Romney Lock which can be quite testing as it uses side fill.  With no other boat in the lock we had plenty of room to play with.  With Pat at the lock pedestal I am essentially single handed, so secure the stern to a bollard and tie off, then take the bow rope at a forward angle to a suitable bollard and control that from the lock-side.  As the boat rises, pulling forward on the bow keeps the stern rope taught and the boat slowly coming forward.  At least that's the theory.  With the side fill there is quite a strong force pushing the boat off the side, so it ends up a couple of feet out, but quite secure.    As we progressed, the wind started to get up as forecast and the rain continued, so that by the time we reached Temple Lock, now on lunchtime self service, we had just about enough of the cold and wet, so at Hurley we took up the invitation from the lock-keeper for an overnight mooring in the weir stream above the lock.   The forecast is not good.  However we are an hour ahead of plan now to reach a rendezvous at Oxford and we will just have to take things as they come and hope that the river doesn't rise too much to stop progress.  Then, later on, there is still the river Cherwell to consider on the lower end of the Oxford Canal. That can cause problems too.   So at least we are warm and snug for tonight