Retirement with No Problem

Woolhampton to Wickham Knight via winding hole, 2 miles 2 locks

Biggest smile on my face for a while as we pulled the pins this morning heading west to the winding hole (turning point).  Oh but I was almost half way round when I wondered why it was going to be so tight when I saw the sign..

Oh dear, only 60ft!  No wonder it was so very tight, but with about 6 inches to spare behind we managed to turn the 67ft+ No Problem!

Before that though we had to go through Woolhampton lock..

I needed to be careful here as there is a sand bank on the corner where the bollard is, a wide berth of that is needed.  But with no real flow on the river the job was a very easy one.  My crew were also delighted to be on the move, even Sir was pleased to swing the bridge for me..

So after winding it was back through the same bridge and lock, except that someone was coming up the lock.  Now this part of the river/canal is extremely quiet at the moment, and since we came back from holiday no boat has passed.  When we went through the lock I said to Vic “Just leave the gates open for us coming back”  At Woolhampton lock you do need to empty it really.. but..

I had to apolgise to the boaters who had to shut the top gate, empty the lock and refill it!  “It was me left it like that, didn’t think in a million years a boat would be coming up”  They were just fine about it, and saw my point!

On past our mooring of late to the next bridge where we moored up on a mission to put some wood on the roof.  We have been spoilt here, in 2009 we piled on all we could for the winter.. couldn’t get any more on so left some.. then in 2010 we collected more with the help of the grandchildren.  There was still some we left though and today we cleared all of it! 

We have a lot to thank this area for I’ll tell you, I guess we have had a couple of tons of wood from the same spot!  It is well seasoned this year for sure!

And so to the final Wassat? of the year.. what a clever lot you are.  I guess you have got used to the way I have been putting these up, but I am very impressed that you managed to guess the last one..

Yes, it is the ice and a large air bubble below it!  Very well done to Charlie (trois point) and Doug (deux point).  So the winner is Sprocky!  Well done you, in second place is Roger and Charlie has jumped up to third with the three points on this.  Well done you all.  Email coming your way shortly to ask your address for the prizes!

Thanks to all those who took part in my Winter Wassat?.  I hope you have had as much fun as I have trying to photograph something to make you think! (Wends I know you came =2nd, but families don’t count for prizes, it’s in the rules!  )

Gosh, onward again tomorrow! Hooray!