Perilous perambulations in the pitch-black.

 

Elaine Stanley of BW had arranged a week of science activities for local year 5 and 6 pupils, as part of National Science Week (15th - 18th March 2004). The pupils spent half a day taking part in hands on science activities at Fountains Mill Youth Centre and the other half day enjoying a boat trip along the Grand Union Canal.

Harold with Spirit and Pisces, 18th March 2004

 The starting point was to be at the 'Swan and Bottle' public house in Uxbridge, owing to its near location to the 'Fountains Centre',   just a couple of minutes away. Consequently, HNA's three boats needed to be taken down to Uxbridge on Sunday 14 March. Due to the fact that the boats were all out on trips until the Sunday afternoon, it was not possible to start the manoeuvres until around 17:00. 

In the teeth of a howling gale, Harold Redshaw moved 'Star' over to Coppermill lock with yours truly attempting to do the same with 'Spirit.'  The wind took full advantage  of my temporary position behind Star and soon blew the stern back towards the far bank, Spirit's nose safely tucked in behind Star's stern. With Harold's help we slowly brought her back in line with the towpath. Eddie Warburton  gleefully watched on the far bank. He hadn't untied 'Pisces' from H.Q. yet, and had no intention of doing so until Star and Spirit were safely into the lock. That done, he swiftly brought Pisces over to the bollards ready to enter the lock as soon as it was back in his favour. 

 

There then followed a game of leapfrog as the three boats were brought down through Black Jack's, Widewater, Denham Deep, and finally Uxbridge lock. The first steerer to arrive at the lock prepared it for onward passage and waited for a second boat to join him. Going through the lock, one steerer would temporarily tie up and go back to prepare the lock for the third boat, giving the first steerer plenty of time to prepare for the second at the next lock and so on. It sounds more complicated than it was! By the time I was approaching Denham Deep, darkness had fallen and I was struggling to make out what I thought was the small bridge that used to allow access to the gravel pit on the right-hand-side. Eventually though I slowly came to a stop above the lock. 

The rain had started with a vengeance, the temperature had dropped and I was feeling distinctly unloved as I realised that the bottom gates were open and the lock was against me! Why had I been abandoned in this way?  I should have known better--suddenly, by some unseen force the bottom gates swung silently shut. In the gloamin I was just able to make out Eddie's silhouette as he pushed the balance beam. He'd tied below the lock and had climbed back up to assist. I had been subject to the phenomenon that all boaters will recognise. You are convinced that everyone is miles ahead whereas they're only just round the next bend. In the pitch blackness the feeling is only emphasised! Chugging cheerfully out of the dark canyon that is Denham Deep, I noticed that Eddie had turned on his spotlight and decided to do the same. It's normally something I'm reluctant to do because, once on, you can't see anything else! However, Uxbridge lock was only 15 minutes ahead and the spotlight on Spirit soon illuminated an all-red coated Harold standing on the lockside. He had already tied up and had returned the few yards to the lock, and set it for myself and Eddie coming up behind. 

 

Pisces and Spirit breasted up within the lock and poodled slowly round to the 'Swan and Bottle'  Three and a quarter hours from Coppermill in not the easiest of conditions. Martin Stanworth was waiting to whisk us back to Coppermill in the (comparative) wink of an eye. Another day over!     

          

I hadn't intended to cover the next few days of happy smiling children making excursions downstream as far as the Slough Arm and upstream as far as Widewater but one incident stands out from that time.

 

BW have accepted a tender from a firm to transport gravel from Denham to West Drayton thus keeping several heavy lorries off the roads. Unfortunately, loads in excess of seventy tons are increasingly liable to 'run aground' because, in these days of little dredging activity, the 'bottom is too near the top.'

Consequently, the children were afforded a close-up view of 93 tons [!!]  in a barge being unceremoniously dragged by 'Naseby' a BW tug, clear of the bridge by the 'General Elliot' pub opposite Uxbridge boatyard.

                  

74 tons floating by the "Swan and Bottle"                 93 tons floundering by the "General Elliot"

 

As I said to Ian MacLachlan [HNA chairman] at the time.... I feel a report coming on!!