Waiting.

Tempranillo's first serious cruise ended on Tuesday as we arrived back in our mooring at Crick Marina just as the weather changed for the worse. We got a little damp as we rose back up through Watford Locks. Sue especially as she worked the paddles in the rain.

Single width, deep Watford Locks on The Leicester Arm.

These locks are very close to Watford Gap services on the M1 and squashed between the A5 and the main London Railway line so not exactly a tranquil spot. The locks have a keeper and boats must not enter any lock until recorded on his list. This is because the locks are only wide enough for one narrow beam boat at a time. There is though a passing place in the middle of the flight but this has to be controlled by the Lock Keeper. Of course when Sue went to find him, as I waited at the bottom lock with Tempranillo, he was right at the top by lock 7. Quite a climb. A rise of nearly 50 feet. Although he controls the passage of the boats, he doesn't open or close the paddles so Sue had to work in the rain. I did offer but she is not yet confident enough to steer Tempranillo into such confined spaces. Each lock is only about 6 inches wider than the boat, so being lined up on entry is imperative. The locks in the middle of the flight have holding pounds which conserve water by reusing the water each time a lock is emptied and filled again. There is one set of paddles painted red on each lock that has a pound. This must be opened first to save the water by diverting it into the pound. Apparently one of the first ever Lock Keepers painted them red to make it easier to explain how to work the system. He had a saying: "Red afore white and you'll be alright, white afore red and you'll wish you were dead!" Clever those Victorians.

Passage through Watford Locks, as through all lock systems, is very strict because of safety and water conservation. The top end of the Leicester Arm of the Grand Union Canal on which we are currently moored is very short of water this year. Most of this canal is 412 feet above sea level and is quite twisty. Once our engine has had its first service tomorrow, we intend to make that journey North. 

Important instructions for passing through the locks.

The Leicester Arm, we are told is very pretty. Let's hope we get some good weather as we explore it this weekend. I shall be reporting on it in a couple of days including what is happening at Foxton Locks, or not if there is no water!