Time after Time

So, there's this small, technical disconnect between Canal & River Trust operational staff and Canal & River Trust volunteers...

Setting off from Enfield Lock

Canal & River Trust staff like to make early starts, their engineers and lengths-people like to head out at 07.30 for a day looking at bridges and weirs and locks and all that lovely stuff. Trust volunteers like all that lovely stuff too, but really don't enjoy starting the day before travel is off-peak; like 09.30 or 10.00 or 11.00.

Clearing a large waterproof jacket (and some upholstery)
from the prop at Rammey Marsh Lock.

So it was today. Workboat/Welcome Station Jena was expected to support inspections in Broxbourne and up the Lea. We'd compromised on a 09.00 start for RE & CK and myself to move the boat from Enfield up the Lea to meet the inspection team.

Cutting an inspection hole for the inverter below stairs.

Well, I guess they got impatient waiting for us, and by the time we set off they were already at Kings Weir, Broxbourne. And by the time we reached Kings Weir, they were at Fieldes Lock. And by the time we reached Fieldes Lock, at about 1pm, they'd already been up to Rye House and come back and had effectively finished their inspections for the day (at least all the ones that they could do without access from the water.)

A clogged lock weir channel at Cheshunt Lock

So, we moored Jena at Rye House. They're meeting us there at 08.30 tomorrow morning. Which means rolling  out of bed at 6am to cycle to Hackney Downs to get the 07.48 train. Sod packing lunch, I'm going to take a packed breakfast.

Cartagena Lock

Dobbs Weir Lock

4 hours.