After two days at home sorting stuff, we finally made it back to Jannock for the last part of our homeward journey. On arrival at Marsworth we found that Jannock was now immediately behind Pengalanty as the other boat had moved off. Had a chat to Allan who appears to have damaged some ribs by snapping a windlass and falling onto a balance beam Ouch! I dont think 2007 has been a very good year for your health Allan, I hope you are recovered soon.
The trusty bike came out for the Marsworth flight with me going ahead and setting the next lock whilst Brenda manoeuvred Jannock into the current one. Once out of the flight I was expecting to see all the Bulbourne 14 day moorings full of winter moorers but it was totally empty. Maybe that is an indication of the reluctance to pay the increased BW mooring rates. When we arrived at Cowroast lock I was amazed at the clarity of the water, you could see the bottom clearly for about ¼ mile either side of the lock. I believe BW are extracting water from the spring there to make up for the lack of water coming from the reservoirs due to another blight of blue-green algae. As we continued down through Dudswell locks it became obvious that the boat ascending Cowroast that wed had to wait for was totally ignoring the BW requests to leave certain locks empty. What was more surprising was the gent cutting the hedge alongside his ex-lock cottage hadnt noticed they had left his lock full either and hes the one wholl end up with a flooded cellar. Down through Northchurch into Berko without stopping, only pausing whilst the boat descending lock 53 winded and came back up before we could enter the lock. He was turning as theyd just learnt about lock 60 being closed for repairs. Finally arrived back at Bourne End about 3:30pm to be greeted by Julian and Caro and treated to a nice cup of tea before being given a lift back to Marsworth to collect the car. Will have to prepare Jannock for winter one weekend soon as well as take her down to Winkwell to wind once lock 60 is better. The two weeks since I finished at Voda-ville have really flown by, have to report to the new job tomorrow. Oh well, freedom over, back to the grindstone. Graham www.jannock.org.uk [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
