Day 41: Limehouse Basin

Simon arrived at 9am for a briefing, which included how to secure our boats once inside the lock.  Unlike most canal locks, which let water in and out by raising paddles this lock controls water flow by opening the massive hydraulic gates - a tiny crack at first and then more as the water equalises.  The effect is to suck boats forward as soon as the gates start opening, so boats must be secured bow and stern by ropes looped around 'risers', steel cables vertically set into the lock wall.

Simon's plan showing how boats must be secured in the lock. The outer boats are roped to risers and the middle boat to a boat alongside
 

Promptly at 10.30am, Best of British and Medusa descended the lock and took holding positions on the river and then it was the turn of Catnap and the other two boats to enter the lock. Denis steered Catnap into position on the right and Jan stood on the bow ready to loop the rope around the forward riser.  However just at this point, Denis suddenly lost both forward and reverse drive and realised that the gear mechanism had failed! The three lockkeepers sprang into action and were able to pull Catnap backwards out of the lock to safety against the Basin wall.  We were extremely fortunate not to be on the river at the time, when a serious rescue effort would have been necessary and it's a salutary warning that no matter how well maintained and well running an engine is, there's no guarantee something unexpected won't happen.

For us continuing the trip was, temporarily at least, impossible until we could find an engineer to repair the problem. 

For the others, the trip was excellent and uneventful. We all exchanged goodbye messages and our hope that we meet up again on the waterways somewhere.



Priceless leaving the lock with Dreammaker following

The convoy, now 4 boats, heading for Tower Bridge

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