So, I can get in and out of the marina quite well now – in fact I probably even look like I know what I’m doing although you can use a sun dial to record how long it takes me.
Today, Jane and Bob came over for a day out – the weather was perfect and there was no breeze, so no real excuse to not go out even if it was a Bank Holiday weekend. Being a bank holiday, it was busy and at times we had to work our little socks off.  Coming out of Temple Lock was really smooth but we were immediately faced with three reasonably sized boats coming downstream all trying to fit into the same space under the bridge. Although they were travelling downstream they graciously waited for us to come through, not that there would have been any space for them as it was all a bit crowded round the lock exit.
So on to Hambledon Lock, which was a lot bigger than Temple Lock such that as we approached it disgorged 8 boats into our face.  Not as bad as it sounds as we were on the lay-by but traffic volume was increasing by the second. Still, we locked in and out quite well, confidence growing, and headed on towards Henley. We decided to moor up for lunch opposite Temple island and spent some time relaxing and watching the world go by, but eventually we had to push on homewards.
On the return leg, Hambledon Lock did not go so smoothly – definitely a case of leaving a thruster on by mistake and messing up my approach – but we got in without any major mishaps. Then mistake number one – despite all the warnings, and a firm belief that it would never happen to me, I ended up with the breast line getting trapped as the lock emptied. Despite my best (unsuccessful) efforts to free the line, as it started to squeal I quickly found our bread knife and cut the rope enough for it to snap, without getting too close. Pleased that I had dealt with the hazard relatively speedily and safely whilst remembering the consequences of getting too close, I was still extremely embarrassed that I had allowed it to happen.
And as if that was not bad enough, I then had to come out of the lock with a bit of speed to clear the river flow but unfortunately I allowed myself to get distracted, and the next thing I knew we were closing fast on the bank and trees with Nicki luckily managing to avoid being swept overboard! Full reverse and both thrusters kept us out of most of it, but sadly, to add even more embarrassment to an awkward situation, we had just come out of the lock with half a dozen boats following us, so the whole incident was fairly public …. not my best moment.
Anyway here are a few pics of the day.
Nicki’s idea of heaven, moored next to an ice cream van whilst waiting to enter the lock.Oh joy, now we get to follow the paddle steamer through the locks.
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