Wednesday 3rd October 2012

Wednesday 3rd October.

Problems with the electrics last night. The batteries went flat on us. Like really flat, the voltmeter said 10 volts and the smartgauge said 5%. It shouldn't go below 50%.
Our LED lights were just about ok but there was no water pump or anything else working. So we switched off every switch in case there was a drain of some sort. It was about 11pm so we went to bed.
In the morning the voltmeter had recovered back to over 12v and the Smartgauge to 30 ish. The water pump worked and the fridge came on. Strange. Anyway I started the engine and got on with cooking two enormous poached eggs and toast. We had picked these eggs up from a lockside stall at the bottom of the Audlem lock flight on Monday, only £1.40 for half a dozen. The eggs were huge and yummy too.
Then Pip set off on foot to get the first lock of the day ready. We had mis timed things and were following another NB. We went down the 5 locks of the Addersley flight then carried on still following the other boat. We moored up for a cuppa before tackling the Audlem 15. One boat came up thereby leaving the lock full for us but before we could cast off another boat came along from behind and used the lock. Such is life. So we followed them down.

Somewhere on the Audlem Flight

The 15 locks are not very deep and so quite easy to operate. Their only downside is that they don't have a footbridge below the bottom gates making it difficult for one person to open both gates without walking all the way round the lock. Some people jump across the gap to save the walk around but it's quite high up and a bit scary so we don't do it. So I get off the boat after Pip has opened the bottom paddles and stop the boat banging into the gates with a rope. At this point Pip sets off down to the next lock to set it filling.Then, when the lock is empty I open one gate and Pip returns to open the other one. I then climb down the ladder back onto the boat and drive out leaving Pip to close both gates. This process became much easier if there was a boat coming up in the next lock down. 
We did 12 of the locks and then moored up in the village of Audlem and had some tea and sandwiches. We then went off to the village Co-op shop for some provisions. Pip also bought a post card. Then we did the final 3 locks of the flight and continued on for a mile or so before mooring up for the night. We moored not far from the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, the red lights on the top of its communications tower being clearly visable.
We had leftover lasagne and baked potatoes for tea.
I had an email conversation with Carefree Cruising about the batteries. Its looking we might need new batteries. There are five of them and they are not cheap.
In all today the engine has run for about 10 hours charging the batteries and they did hold out till we went to bed. I turned off everything electrical overnight.

Summary:

5 miles, 20 locks, 1 electrical failure, 1 helicopter.