Friends Reunited
by: Myron
Yet another classic day on the cut last Monday. Margaret was reunited with her two proteges, Warp and Weft. Not everyone may be aware that these three vessels were built and used as a team by the original owners. We bought the hoppers several years ago but had no use of the tug then. If only we’d known, we‘d have snapped it up then. Fortunately, we got a second bite at the cherry as it were, and the rest is now history.
As you would expect by now, the tug/hopper duo soon proved to have awesome capabilities. In addition to Margaret’s power and manoeuvrability, the adjustable hydraulic rams really came into their own. As the combination moves down the, trying to deal with narrows and shallows, the skipper can play a tune on the two hydraulic levers in the cabin, literally bending the combined craft through a considerable arc, keeping both stern of tug and bow of hopper in the tortuous channel we sometimes laughingly call a canal.
Old friends meet
Entering Ryeford locks with Weft proved to be exactly the same process as that already established with Goliath. Weft was tied up at the bottom of the locks, and a very satisfied crew returned Margaret to base.
Beginning connecting
The historic moment when Margaret is connected to a hopper
There’s a bow up there somewhere.
M&H2 – A Happy Crew.