Leading up to the appointed hour of 9:00 am boats gathered. We expected 6 in total, the maximun allowed, but we made 7. We had the correct paperwork, so that was OK, as far as the boys in blue were concerned it was good enough. At 08:55 the bridge 9 was opened causing a huge pile up of traffic. Seven boats went through in convoy as fast as possible. On then to Netherton Bridge, a lesser road. Then we moved on again, Nuggler at the rear, until the services where Pat chucked rubbish off on the fly into a moored flat, and one boat stopped for Elsan emptying. So we were no longer last. Reaching near to the top of the Stanley flight we had out first serious prop fouling. The boat wobbled sideways and there was an ovbious oscillation with wash confusion. So weed hatch up X1. Then reversing to stop at the top of the locks all manner of rubbish was stirred up. Visit No 2. Thereafter no problems. There was help with the locks and brief directions given for the docks, but actually as I suspected it would be, all very obvious in the end. There was a little bit of wind in Salthouse dock which meant a second attempt at reversing in from up-wind, but soon we were established. Exploration of our immediate environment took place, though no Wetherspoon very near!
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