Bartimaeus

My long delayed dental appointment is tomorrow, so we wanted to get Bartimaeus in to a good spot.  The forecast is for full sun all day, so I was particularly keen to make sure the solar panels are ready to bask while I’m away.  We were nearly ready to set off when a boat came past us.  We hurried to follow them so that we could share the double locks –  only to find they had stopped to get water.

Clare told them we’d wait for them, and went to get the lock ready.  We didn’t have to wait long for them to join us, and they seemed pleased that we had waited. They were a crew of four, the younger couple had a share in the boat and were experienced boaters.  The parents were less experienced, but did their share of the lock work, so we were well crewed for the flight.

After the short drive to the lock from our mooring I’d switched the engine off as we waited.  It wouldn’t start again on exit – this “warm start” problem needs resolving.  I drove on electric to the next lock still with no joy on exit.  Fortunately after the next one the engine did start – I opted to leave it running for the rest of the flight.

Before we reached the bottom of the flight we passed a boat I’d noticed with a distinctive number. Usually the index number is of little interest, there is no narrowboat equivalent of the personalised number plate when you can give it a name.

At the bottom of the flight I left Clare tidying up the lock with our flight-mates and told her I’d see her at the rings outside the supermarket a short distance away.  As I drove along I thought I’d be clever and put the fender down at the back.  I’m not sure how I managed it, but instead I threw them overboard – and these are the ones that sink.  Worse things happen at sea!

We had lunch in two stages, tidying up what we had on board before shopping for more.  Once we’d had part two, we set off again.  Just beyond the winding hole we’d turned at last week we passed our locking partners again.  They waved as we went by, but didn’t give any indication of setting off.  We were now in the section of canal cut from rock alongside the city walls.

At the end of this section there is a staircase of three locks.  We’d seen another boat going through last week, and I’d also seen that there was plenty of space in a large open basin just below.  Clare opted to work the locks and opened the gates at the top to let me in.  A large group of walkers arrived and looked on with interest.  Clare thought she’d understood what to do and opened the paddle.  I’d only dropped a foot or so when she re-appeared looking flustered, there was water everywhere she said.  From the back of the boat I couldn’t see anything amiss – but she put the paddle down and went to resolve things.

At this point I noticed our morning companions approaching, so I reopened the top paddles to allow them to join us once Clare had tidied things up beyond.  They were alongside us before Clare was ready to start again, so the timing worked very well.  With all the men on the boats and the women operating the locks it went very smoothly.

At the bottom it was hardly any distance to the mooring spot.  I was surprised to see that the empty bank I’d seen last week was now nearly full.  As I hovered at the only gap, wondering if it was quite long enough, the couple on one of the boats popped out and offered to move a few feet forward to let us in – so often boaters are very considerate of others needs.

Once we were moored, I set off to collect the replacement cube relays I’d ordered from the (now) nearby shop.  I hoped it would be an easy enough job to switch them over, so I decided to do it immediately.

I was replacing the small black cubes fixed to the wires with cable ties.  The replacements were nearly identical, but had the numbered pins in a slightly different order.  I seemed to manage to get things on in the right order though.  Now the warning lights all behave as they are supposed to do, only coming on fleetingly when the engine is being started or stopped.  That’s another job tidied up!