From canals@tclayton.demon.co.uk Sat May 1 11:25:13 1999 Date: Sun, 05 Jul 1998 18:31:18 GMT From: Tony Clayton Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: To Basingstoke (nearly) Part Three Day 3: Saturday June 27th - Up Deepcut Locks to Mytchett Just before 9 we ambled along to the bottom lock at Brookwood to join the two narrow-boats for the journey up the 17 locks. The warden was waiting for us and we allowed the two steel boats in first before tucking in behind the hire boat. I said before that the locks on the Basingstoke take a long time to fill. Brookwood bottom lock (12) took twenty minutes, as someone had vandalised the lock on the offside paddle so we couldn't use it. In addition the bottom gates leaked a bit more than average. This was a pity as the pound above is one of the shortest on the canal! Eventually we were through and the other two followed rapidly. We then had a pause as we cruised along to Deepcut Bottom Lock (15). The bridge over the tail of this lock is one I have crossed 60 or 70 times a year for the last 20 years or so on my way to Bisley Camp, and it was with a considerable degree of satisfaction that at last I was able to bring 'Linton' into it. Indeed, this was the first time that I had actually seen a boat in the lock, because of the times that boats are permitted through. I am usually too early or too late. Waiting for me was Dave Wedd, who had very kindly responded to my plea for help when I had thought that Hazel and I would be travelling up the locks on our own. It was very clear that we had plenty of help (7 crew in all), so after thanking him for showing up he went off with his parents to do something else. I had mentioned that the usual routine is to leave the gates for the warden to close. It soon became clear that waiting around while the two steel boats got settled into the next lock was not very comfortable for us, so we developed the routine of pulling Linton out to the curve of the lock entrance (we were always on the right-hand side opposite the towpath), and shutting my gate while the warden shut the other. He was keen to hear the thump as the gate hit the sill to ensure that there were no twigs or other debris trapped, but once he saw that I understood this he seemed to appreciate not having to walk around the lock every time. By the time I had done this and set off we caught the others up tucking in behind the hireboat just as they came to a stop. It was generally fairly tight, with us just fitting in an inch or two in front of the bottom gates. There was a very short shower as we entered Lock 18 (I think), but otherwise we went up the flight in beautiful sunshine, with the smell of warm bracken pervading. One lock was much narrower than the others. I think it is 21, but cannot be sure. Despite both narrowboats having thin rope fenders they nearly got stuck before enough space could be made for us, so on that occasion I angled 'Linton' across the lock in order that the gates could be shut. The only other piece of excitement was when we came up Lock 24. Above this lock the pound was widened out on dredging, and an island, now called Roy's Ait, created as a nature reserve. As a matter of principle when on the Thames I always go round the wrong side of islands if I can, and this was no exception! Two very large carp were seen basking in the shallows. Our temporary disappearance caused some puzzlement to the others. Lock 25 has Curzon Bridge over it, and the headroom is not all that marvellous. Hazel was quite glad that we were far enough back that she didn't have to duck as the lock filled (she sits on the front of the roof whenever possible, and especially when we are locking). Two fishermen in the pound above were a little surprised by the activity, but again seemed glad to have their silt stirred up a bit. Eventually we ascended Lock 28 at 2 o'clock, having taken 5 hours to get up the two flights. The others stopped for lunch, and we carried on to just past Deepcut Bridge before we had ours. Frimley Aqueduct is not very obvious any more. The towpath rails have gone, as have the two stop gates that were used to protect the railway during the War, and its width is the same as the canal on either side. The railway goes through in four brick tunnels skew to the canal, and when it was repaired a few years ago the tops of the tunnels could be seen in the bottom of the trough. There was great deal of activity going on at Frimley Lodge Park, with the miniature railway very much in use (I think it is about 6 inch gauge). We carried on to the Canal Centre at Mytchett, where we tied up for the night. It is a popular spot, with Cream Teas available, and both a trip boat and a restaurant boat. More important, there is a shower which we made good use of next morning (you need to get a key for out-of-hours use - £10 deposit at the Centre). The trip boat set off at 3.30 in bright sunlight, and no sooner had it disappeared through the bridge than a massive thunderstorm struck. The rain was torrential, and two vertical lightning strikes were very close indeed (flash-bang time of less than half a second). A short time later the steerer on the trip-boat returned giving a plausible imitation of a drowned rat. Next part - to Greywell and back. -- Tony Clayton 'Linton', Godalming Wharf Home Page http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk ... Memory is a thing we forget with.