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How a lock works.

What happens if a boat has to go through stretches of water of differing levels? Or through rapids? When Lewis and Clark explored the west, they often had to portage their smaller boat around waterfalls and rapids. But it's not so easy with a big boat full of coal. Or people. The answer is a lock. The Erie Canal, for example, which rises some 550 feet from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, has 57 locks. 

Now you can impress your friends and coworkers with these tidbits of lock history. Try to do it only if the actual subject of locks comes up. Preferable not by you during a conversation about weekend plans.
How a Lock Works
A note of disclosure: I may have gotten the following operation backward. If it doesn't make sense, reverse everything in your head and see if that helps.    
1. As you're coasting down the river, a handy sign will tell you that there's a lock ahead.
2. When your narrowboat approaches, send someone out to turn the first crank to get into the lock.
3. See how at the start the water on the left side is higher than the water on the right?
4. Using the handy dandy cranking tool you were smart enough to procure before you set off on your trip, open the "let the water out" part of the operation. Probably this operation has a name, which you will have to get from some other source.
5. Once the lock is opened, water gushes out to lower the water on the left, which in turn lowers the boat. I believe there is magic involved.
6. Sit and wait patiently until the water level finishes lowering itself.
7. Then come back and close the lock so the next merry crew can repeat the performance.
Lest you be misinformed: Not all narrowboats are as pleasant-looking as the ones I've shown so far. If this is your boat I am truly sorry. Your life must just be a mess.
While you're doing all that lock turning and waiting
and opening and closing, sing this song, which
​I remember from music class in grade school.


Saturday 9/21

Land at Heathrow, train to paddington, train to Exeter, train to barnstaple, walk to The Old Vicarage—where we are staying until Thursday.
Have to remember how to read these boards.
Our room.
Love the bath!
First, tea in the garden.
After our tea we walk to the bus station to pick up bus schedules. Hop the 21 to Fremington, which is where we left off last time.
On the path.
Ha! Bob wants “he was a character” on his tombstone.
Fairly uninteresting walk, mostly along marshes.
Security idea for PP@L
We’re on an old railroad line, cute tunnels and all. This looks like a tunnel from the Thomas videos.
Our first pub. This is Instow.
My new favorite drink. It’s cucumber and elderberry and so good I have two. Which means we are finished for the day! We’ll complete this stretch of the walk tomorrow.
We order fish& chips takeaway rather than eating it in the pub because (a) it’s about half the price, and (b) fish & chips taste best outside! Check out the newspaper wrapping!
Not so healthy but it’s the first night and we’re on the coast where the fish is fresh, so.

Sunday, 9/22 Morning

Ate a marvelous breakfast, then walked straight out of Barnstaple to pick up the path heading northwest.
We fill out a little form the night before, choosing our breakfast time and meal items. Plus, there’s a sideboard of granolas, yogurt, fruit, etc.
View from our table.
Walking through Barnstable before hike.
The path. Heading first to Braunton.
The path is flat and fairly unremarkable. Sky is threatening.
We reach Braunton, almost pass right by this, then decide to stop for a short break.
Lovely inside, nicest people.

Sunday, 9/22 Afternoon

We walk Braunton to Saunton, intending to catch bus at Saunton, except I read Saturday’s bus schedule instead of Sunday’s because it’s so easy to do that and we soon find out there is no Sunday bus service in Saunton.
This Is looking back to Braunton. Path leads along this estuary. I think it’s an estuary.
Blackberry bushes are everywhere!
We’re right next to military training grounds.
Lunch break. Sandwiches. Forgot to pack dessert.
Ha! We see this sign as we close the gate after walking across the field.
It’s here that we realize that no bus will be coming. Luckily there’s a golf course right next to the path and we bum a ride to Braunton, which we know for sure has Sunday buses.

Saturday, 9/22 Evening

Our main goal on Sunday every time we come to England is it to make it to a Sunday Roast Dinner. Usually we miss it. Today though we are lucky: we find a good place in Braunton and end the walk on a full-belly note. Total miles today: 11.5.
Roast beef, potato, assorted fresh veggies, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding. Yum.
Waiting in the rain for the bus back to Barnstaple.
The Vicarage at last! We are both exhausted.
This waits for us every afternoon. That’s fresh cream on top.
Washed our clothes though not very thoroughly.
Choose breakfast and go to bed!
  • 2019 Trip Blog
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