Fleet on manoeuvres. The Boat Teams perspective.
by Myron
Every week seems to bring a major event on the canal these days. Today was about taking half a dozen boats from one part of the canal to another. The Dredgers have been waiting for the Piling Gang to finish at Wallbridge, who then wanted Samson delivered to their next job at Ebley. A maximum effort was declared at Wallbridge. Some of the finest members of the Piling Gang, The Dredgers and the Boat Team were present. All went well with Samson making quick progress with a large amount of sweating and heaving, hotly pursued by the Dredgers and Weft and Warp. However Samson was brought up sharp at the dreaded GAS MAIN. I told you Alan, that it wouldn’t go over, I told you. Off Alan disappears to Wallbridge to let some water out of the locks. That with some seriously skilful crane driving by Mike, managed to shove the barge over the obstacle. Well I’ll be, but no time to ponder. As Samson goes into the lock, Nick and I go to fetch Margaret, as it is now obvious that the exercise to bow haul Samson to Wiggal’s yard will soon be over.
We arrive with Margaret, just as Samson is coming out of the lock, and it is stuck again! But the situation was no match for the combined efforts of all three teams. Samson gave up the unequal struggle and slipped obediently out of the lock. At Wiggals yard the exercise to couple Samson to Margaret went smoothly enough, given the amount of silt around, and progress was made passing the first major hurdle of Hill Orchard bridge hole. That was surprisingly easy, and getting through the narrows of the water main did not hold us up for long. Then the fun started as we approached the confluence weir. This was the most difficult passage I’ve ever done on the Stroudwater. The channel shifts from one side of the canal to the other, whereas the bulk of the barge just wants to go down the middle. But we learned some new tricks on how to use Margaret, which yet again, impressed. By slackening off or tightening the rams, the two previously mentioned positions could be harmonised to some degree, the result was that we got through, with great difficulty. The rest of the voyage was a piece of cake, relatively speaking. Samson was delivered to the site at Ebley as ordered.
