During the afternoon it came on raining heavily - so we decided to chuck it in and do the last bit in the morning. Sadly there was already a boat moored at our favourite spot above Fobney Lock, so we went on through and headed on into Reading.
The last lock above Reading is County lock - that's when everything began to go pear shaped! I dropped Annie off above the lock so that she could walk down and prepare it - but then made the mistake of setting off straight away, arriving before it was ready. Normally you can drift in slowly or stop the boat altogether in the lock entrance. Not County Lock! Most of the river is taken up by a wide fast-flowing and very noisy weir. County lock is immediately to its side, separated from the weir by only a piling wall, with a thin plank on top.
I parked the boat against the rail whilst Annie opened the lock and we then had to haul the boat to line up with the lock using ropes. As we hauled over the boat we could hear the dog barking from the boat.... er but she sounded panicky and a little far away... She's not being washed down the weir? I shouted (the boat was in the way so we couldn't see) Running round we did see her. She had climbed off the boat and was standing on the 4inch wide plank! no wonder she was panicking with a raging torrent on either side. We quickly pushed the boat back across the lock mouth and I was able to reach down and grab her harness, lifting her onto the roof. Here she stayed, with all 4 legs splayed out looking completely phased!
With the dog safely on board and recovering we moved through the lock and moored to the platform just downstream. Here is the tricky bit! The platform contains a set of traffic lights which control the narrow section of river through the town centre. It is so fast flowing and narrow that 2 boats cannot safely pass and very hairy at the best of times. The traffic lights went to green giving us an easy 12 minutes to navigate the tricky bit. We quickly untied and Annie took up station at the sharp end with me at the blunt end waggling the sticky thing. Pushed it into gear - and we were off! down the log flume! ....except we weren't. 30 seconds after untying the centre rope (which the dog had knocked off the roof and we hadnt noticed) had made its way to the back of the boat, in an instant wrapping itself around the propeller which stalled the engine. Silence! We are now in the current, with no power (essential to maintain steering) and heading down through the town centre shops. Aargh!
So I shouted for Annie to come back - there was a small chance we could lasso a bollard before we got too far from the bank. Except Annie didnt make it. Splash! rushing back down a slippery gunwhale she had fallen in.
We are now in the current, with no power (essential to maintain steering) and heading down through the town centre shops - with the crew in the river. Aargh!
With some effort Annie managed to make it to the back of the boat and climb back on using the rudder plate as a step. Note to self:
1. Its impossible to lift waterlogged crew member out of the water
2. Always use the throw line and life belt to secure anybody in the water
3. Dont forget to tie the end of the rope to the boat Aargh!
Safely on deck Annie managed to cut through the rope between the roof and propeller - now as taut as a bow string. I had thrown open the engine compartment and opened the weed hatch giving access to the propeller below. The rope had turned around the prop several times and now loose could be quickly removed. Screwing down the weed hatch and slamming the engine cover shut I cranked up the engine - it worked! Incredibly all of this had only taken a couple of minutes and we were still under the bridge at the entrance to the Oracle. Serenely we motored out to be watched by the crowds of Friday afternoon shoppers - people with children waved at us and we happily waved back. Bet they wondered why the helmsman was covered in weed, the scurvy crew dripping from head to toe, and the ships dog bedraggled and shivering! Shall we moor up dear? Yes lets!
Whilst Annie is blessed with a magnificent leg kick from her swimming days, when she surfaced from falling in, her leg came into contact with the bottom of the boat rather sharply - which swelled up rapidly. We feared a break. A phone call to my sister Chris and she dropped everything to take Annie for a nice sit down and chat at A&E. After 3 hours it was determined she was fine and should live a little longer, returning to the boat at 10.30pm. Well what can you expect from a Friday 13th? We resolved to put it all behind us and set off bright and early tomorrow morning.
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