Castle Mill Lock closed for investigation.
Yesterday we spent the day in Bedford after walking to the railway station for Christina's trip to Nottingham and to meet Tracey from London. There was plenty to see with the Saturday market in full swing as well as general sight seeing.
We went and had a look at the town visitor moorings to make our own opinion of what was available. The moorings themselves are good but they share the same stretch of waterway as the local canoe club who have a slalom course and water polo court set up right alongside. Any boats moored there while these water sport's were being played would be likely to suffer damage from being rammed or hit by misplaced paddle's or the ball. I don't know who dreamed up that idea but I think it needs to be changed. We had also been warned about a low bridge that quickly becomes impassable at the slightest rise in water levels. Well we didn't want to put ourselves in that situation especially as there is a lot of rain forecast for the week-end so we are quite happy to stay in the marina.
Sunday morning dawned with heavy rain so it was a lazy sort of morning. This afternoon we saw Tracey off and then walked to Tesco's for a few bit and pieces despite drizzly rain. Back at the Marina we enquired about the price of diesel and was pleasantly surprised at 70p per litre so without another ado we took ourselves over to the diesel pump for 112 litres worth thank you very much. While this was going on Kalimera was moved to where we had been moored so that on our return we could pull onto the pump out point and do a pump out.
While filling the water tank an elderly gentleman came across and spoke to us with the unwanted news that EA has closed Castle Mill lock until Tuesday when they plan to put a diver down to find out what is causing the problem with the bottom gates. Apparently EA have received daily complaints over the last 3 days about this lock so it looks as if they are forced to do something. Our plan was to leave here early tomorrow morning but we will have to stay another night and leave early on Tuesday so that hopefully we will be on the spot when Castle Mill lock re-opens. Fingers crossed as I have a funeral to attend in Plymouth on Friday!
1153 locks, 1603 miles, 41 Tunnels, 41 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006
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