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Saturday, February 08, 2014

Trapped on the Aylesbury Arm!

“In Amsterdam the water is the mistress and the land the vassal. throughout the city there are as many canals and drawbridges as bracelets on a Gypsy's bronzed arms.” ~Felix Marti-Ibanez

    Last Monday found us at Marsworth waiting for the wind and rain to ease. We awaited the delivery of a Tesco order before we commenced to cruise on new water. Neither of us have ever been down the Aylesbury Arm. Our need to stay in the general area for Les' upcoming surgery on March 3rd meant we were restricted by how far we could cruise.
   The Aylesbury arm is convenient and we didn't see any restrictions posted so off we cruised into the staircase lock, down onto a new bit of canal. It felt great to be doing single locks again! The pound directly below was a bit low in water several days before when we walked down to have a look. After two nights of near continuous rain it was full and we soon reached Blackjack's lock which sports new brickwork repairing the breach from March 2013. 
   By this time the winds were quite furious. Rain was pelting from bruised and livid skies and we had the devil's own time mooring up. With some quick moves on Les' part he managed to tether the stern with mooring chains while I hung on to the center rope for all I was worth. Meanwhile the wind shoved our boat at an angle across the canal. It took the combined efforts of us both hauling on the center line, slipping in three inches of muck and mud, to get NB Valerie's nose back.
   Finally, wet and exhausted, we managed to pull in the bow and moor up. Hot showers, clean, dry clothes and something warm in our bellies soon revived us.
   The next morning we watched NB Ramses II pass us early in the morning, heading for Aylesbury. As he passed, the bloke steering gave us a queer, intent look, loaded with meaning. We've seen his boat around the general area. In retrospect I am sure he knew what the Aylesbury Arm was like in flood and wondered why we were faffing about instead of making a beeline for the basin. Oh well, live and learn. And boy have we...that night the high winds rocked us and the continuing precipitation drummed on the roof.
   Friday morning dawned dry and bright and we decided to move on toward Aylesbury. We wanted to catch a bus at the station in town and visit family on Monday. This arm is only six miles long although it sports 16 locks to move boats from near the summit level at Marsworth down to Aylesbury town. Moored up just before lock 10, we figured we could easily cruise to the new digs of the Aylesbury Boat Club and suss out the area. 
   Off we went, fools who travel where Angels fear to tread! With each progressive lock the water was higher and higher. In many sections the towpath was a thick mire of sodden muck. In other places the canal had overflowed, pouring across the towpath. Two lock gates had so much water flowing over them that we could not budge the gate without tying our bow rope to it and hauling it open with NB Valerie in reverse. We naively assumed this was a problem with just a couple of locks, and thought we could keep moving and eventually outpace the issue. 
   My LL Bean waterproof snow boots eventually became wet as water poured over the tops while I worked the locks. My jeans were soaked to the knees. Les slipped on some Wellies but they have no real grip and he nearly lost his balance and landed on his back in four inches of fast moving water pouring across the towpath, hiding three inches of complete sludge underneath. Signs on the lock gates asked that the locks be left empty so we left the paddles up carrying loads of water along with us as we moved on down. 
   Eventually we fetched up at Red House Lock (13). So much water was pouring over the top lock gate it sped the length of the overfull lock in seconds and thundered over the bottom gates, crashing to the bottom pound in a maelstrom of whirling water with unbelievable force. I waded into flowing water six inches deep obscuring the towpath and the lock itself to reach the bottom gates. Water poured across the cottage yard and flowed down the small embankment, lapping all around the base of the Red House, obscuring the deck. A 70-something silver haired man stood at the sliding glass doors looking out at his disappearing yard with worry etched on his face. I waved, and he smiled and turned away. 
   Les and I managed to work the top gate open and Les brought the boat in. We hoped leaving both lower gate paddles up on our way out would ease the water pouring from the lock into the yard of the lock side cottage. As NB Valerie slowly began descending with the water level in the lock, the silver haired gent appeared in sweater and Wellies to chat with Les. As they talked I realized our boat had stopped descending and was hovering mid level. Hundreds of gallons of water a second overflowing the top gate meant we could not empty lock 13 and move down. 
   The cottage owner called CART on his mobile and Les explained the situation. We were told this flooding was common at Red House Lock with heavy rainfall and the only thing we could do was refill the lock and reverse out. Up went the boat in the lock, the top gate groaned open at my extreme urging and Les moored the boat on the bollards. I checked my email forty minutes later to find this notice from CART:

Notice Alert

Lock 28, Grove Lock to Lock 45, Lock 1 to Lock 16
Friday 7 February 2014 until further notice
Type: Navigation Closure
Reason: Water resources


Original message:

Due to excessively high water levels following recent heavy rainfall, the Grand Union Canal between Grove Lock 28 and Marsworth Lock 45 and the Aylesbury Arm, will be closed with immediate effect. This is in order to allow the running of flood water through locks.
This closure will remain in place until further notice, and will be reviewed at 12:00pm on Monday 10th February 2014.
You can view this notice and its map online here:
http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/476/grand-union-canal-grove-lock-28-to-marsworth-lock-45-and-aylesbury-arm
You can find all notices at the url below:
http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices
 

   I had checked my email that morning with my tea and cereal. There was nothing from CART at that time. Apparently our phone call set off an alarm and the alert was sent--too late for us. For the time being we are trapped here at lock 13, making careful use of our water, and sussing out the 3.8 mile round trip walk to the shop in Aston Clinton for supplies should we need them. Still, we have groceries, coal, wood, diesel, and each other. We feel fortunate our home floats and is water proof. So many others have suffered much worse. Below is video Les shot of Red House Lock yesterday afternoon:



Stay safe everyone! Stay warm and dry if possible. Take care!!

16 comments:

Sue said...

Golly, you really do need to take care. That lock is worse than Hardwick Lock for us yesterday, but we were coming uphill which obviously was easier to get out of the top gate with the water streaming into the lock.

I have never in my 14 years of owning and living on a boat seen anything like this.

At least you have the comfort of the silver haired gent in an emergency.

Please take care you both xx

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is shocking - I never would have expected those condition on a canal.

We cruised the Aylesbury Arm in blissful summer weather many years ago and, on its day, it is a magical waterway. Hope it shows you its true colours soon..

Stay safe yourselves :-)

Sue, nb Indigo Dream

Anonymous said...

That makes terrifying viewing and reading - I hope you have both recovered and are safe, warm and dry? Here if needed. Good luck and good karma xxA

Boatwif said...

Les & Jaq,
If you need anything, including transport do not hesitate to phone or email.
Love,
Sue and Ken nb Cleddau

Jacquie said...

OMG, Jaq, I didn't realise you had had such a awful time of it, great description,fingers crossed you'll be on your travels again soon> It's having a right old gale now in Warwick. Keep safe and dry xx

Carol said...

Gosh, how frightening! Take care of yourselves, stay safe. xx

Carol said...

Where’s the surfboard then? You could surf into Aylesbury from there!!
Take care, George x

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

Hi Sue,
Yep I do have marvelous company indeed. This weather is just crazy. The rain has stopped--for now but we are still pinned down by the high winds. Give my love to Sir and the two of you take care and be careful.
JaqXX

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

Hi Sue (Inigo Dream),
We hope you and Richard are safe and dry down nearer the Thames. Your recent pictures almost seem to be from a different country--one that isn't choking on flood water and high winds.
The rain has stopped by we are still pinned down by high winds.
JaqXX

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

HI Ang,
Thanks for the offer and moral support. It was shocking to go through as usually boating is merely good. clean fun and exercise. The weather is making it nasty for everyone on this island.
JaqXX

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

Sue and Ken,
Bless your cotton socks--both pairs and thanks tremendously for the offer. We have also had offers from folks who live closer so we may consider help if we cannot move after tomorrow.
Love Jaq and LesXX

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

Hi Jacquie,
Isn't the wind wild?? We had a bunpy old time last night. Glad you are still in the marina where things are better. Give our love to Jo on Hadar when you see her please and keep warm and dry!! No bicycling in this weather! ;)
Love JaqXX

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

George and Carol,
We could surf into Aylesbury form here but we would need a windsurfer to do it! The high winds have pinned down now. The water has gone down enough to move but the winds are relentless.
Stay warm and dry both of you!
Love Jaq and LesXX

Anonymous said...

What a descriptive blog, Jaq! That all sounds too scary. Please take care out there. Aylesbury's not worth risking life & limb to get to! The Pearson Guide says the Aylesbury Arm's attraction lies in the tranquility of its setting. He obviously went there on a sunny day!

Be careful and travel safely.

Alistair

Mrs. Jaqueline Biggs said...

Hi Alistair,
Indeed! We've heard about how peaceful, and bucolic the countryside is around this arm however a 70 acre diary processing plant has recently begun building just adjacent to the canal and new series of luxury homes is being built at Dixon's lock so the countryside is fast disappearing. Time to turn around and make our way back up to Marsworth.
Stay warm and dry!
JaqXX

Unknown said...

Wow, that looks horrendous. On my first boating holiday we experienced flooded locks, but nothing like that. Stay safe you's two

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs