Braunston Lock repairs

 

A few days ago before the freeze we had a walk up the locks at Braunston to see how work was progressing. With only a few days to go until they open work is now nearing completion.

With the locks empty it gives you a good insight as to how they are built. Most locks have brick bottoms although there are odd ones that have a wooden base.

Its a good job this boat is moored on that side where it has a good muddy canal bed to settle on as opposed to this side where it has a very uneven and stoney bottom.

Top lock on the Braunston flight and work is progressing well . There has been a lot old rotten wood cut out of the lock gates and some new oak let in to replace it.

Here you can see how the lock is filled The square paddle on the right is raised with a windlass when the lock gates are closed ,the water then fills the lock via the hole you can see inside the lock on the bottom of the wall….Simple !

I bet someone wasn't very happy about losing their chimney in the lock pound.

“Bloody heck you are a big Westie” said Hamish. Unfortunately Hamish suffers from having Cataracts in both eyes and we sometimes wonder what he sees with his blurred vision.

Walking back through Braunston marina and look at all those shiney boats. I bet more than half of them spend 50 weeks a year without ever moving .

How can you walk pass the the Gongggzlers rest without stopping for a bacon, egg and sausage butty . And the best thing is they come with potato wedges….Just the ticket on a cold day

                                                                                                Happy Days