nemo_I
regular
Reged: 14/01/2008
Posts: 49
Loc: Bucks
|
|
JECuk - I'll keep an eye out for you. Shouldn't be too difficult to spot a wooden boat in Harleyford!
|
rr_123
regular
Reged: 22/08/2007
Posts: 583
Loc: Surrey
|
|
it was quite funny once i'd sorted it out, and the looks on the faces was priceless.
The funny part is that one of the culprits is a hugely competent yachtsman who i would trust with my life on any sea-passage!
--------------------
"I ask myself who is the rich man; you with your wealth, your big house and your beautiful wife, or me, with... what I've got...
It's you, isn't it. should have thought about that a bit more."
Rimmer
|
teddington_lock
regular
Reged: 23/10/2007
Posts: 299
|
|
Embarrassingly enough i manage at least a couple of times every summer to leave the downstream sluices open and then try and go and fill the lock ....
Usually happens when i get distracted during the closing the downstream gates operation , to sort out a visitors licence or something.
I stand on the head pedestal , and usually get chatting to a boater , and then 10 minutes later realise that the lock isn't filling up .... i then have to endure the good natured jeering as i make the walk of shame to the other end of the lock to close the sluices ....
Don't know if i should be admitting to this, i'm meant to be one of the highly trained elite 
*** Geek Alert ***
Sandford and Teddington are the deepest at 8 foot 10 inches drop each . Although Teddington can have a drop of up to 14 feet if you try to go through at low tide on the draw off ( something i couldn't recommend )
Edited by teddington_lock (29/04/2008 17:21)
|
byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6830
Loc: UK -Berks
|
|
OK! If it's confession time. I too have done it once. I was so embarrassed at having to do the walk of shame that ever since I always look to see where the sluices are before making any moves.
--------------------
http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
|
Phill
regular
Reged: 03/09/2004
Posts: 207
Loc: Surrey/Kent borders
|
|
I remember one summers evening, in the late 80's, coming downstream to Bray lock after the Keeper had left.
Another boat was already in the lock and was waving us in. As I came through the lock gates, engine idling, we started to speed up. 
My young and athletic wife (as she was then) managed to get lines ashore whilst I held position under astern power. We were still creeping towards the boat in front which by this time was up against the lower gates. The kids from that boat were so enthusiastic, they had started to raise the tail sluices before the head gates had closed. Their dad meanwhile was closing the gates behind us, being helped by the ever increasing current through the chamber. It was a scary moment that taught all concerned how carefull you have to be in locks.
|
teddington_lock
regular
Reged: 23/10/2007
Posts: 299
|
|
Bet the head gates closed with a nice bang
|
nickcred
regular
Reged: 19/09/2005
Posts: 432
Loc: Hampshire UK
|
|
Ok another admission - In our second season I did the exact same thing at Bovney, not the smallest lock by any means lol. A kindly passer by shouted from the other end of the lock "did you intend emptying the river or would you like me to close the sluices "  I did not endure the walk of shame but the sight of number 1 son emerging from the cabin and rolling around on the cockpit floor in hysterical lafter was enough to make me double check everytime now 
|
Andrew_Fanner
regular
Reged: 13/03/2002
Posts: 5555
Loc: ked into poverty by children
|
|
Er, Molesey last December.
I had an excellent explanation at the time but can't remember it now:-)
--------------------
Two beers please, my friend is paying.
|
TrueBlue
regular
Reged: 30/04/2004
Posts: 1208
Loc: Sussex
|
|
It happens to me at least once a year, though in mitigation it is invariably when going downstream where the previous user has kindly cracked the sluices to leave the lock emptying. Some of the gear looks shut when it isn't - and the converse applies.
So now I rush down (if I remember) and check and of course the darn things are closed.
Still shortly (next year?, year after) the only locks that you'll be able to do it on are those below Boveney (and Boulters) and the "proper" locks, Kings and up. The rest are of the "save the boater from himself" and the gear is Up or Down.
'Twould be nice if Forum Members left a good bit of chrome showing on the rams so that the next bod can see that the gear is partly up?
|
theguvnor
regular
Reged: 09/06/2003
Posts: 1195
Loc: Holland
|
|
Even as a Summer Assistant a few years back (at Marlow, Temple, Cookham & Bray) it was not unusual to "forget to put the plug in"
Chatting to pretty females usually caused it for me
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
