No Problem gets stuck on the lock cill as we cruise to Godmanchester

St Neots to Godmanchester, River Gt Ouse, 9 miles 3 locks

It was nice this morning so we decided to go collect my post from Godmanchester and St Ives today.  We will return to St Neots on Sunday.  Anyway we needed some diesel, and the marina near to Offord Lock sold diesel.  A lovely part of the river this, I enjoyed very much..

However, at Offord Lock I got the backend of NP stuck on the cill.  It was very tight you see.  There was a plastic cruiser in front of me in the lock, and although I thought I had ample room, keeping an eye on the white line on the lock wall showing where the cill was… it lied!!  The cill was a good foot or more into the lock than the line said!!

The cill, for those not in the know, is a bit of concrete that the top gates are sat on, and that concrete stretches into the lock.. if you get the back end on that then the front can very quickly become submerged if action isn’t taken immediately as the lock in emptying.. but I shouted as soon as I realised and the paddles on the front gates got wound down at blistering speed, while someone opened the guillotine gate behind me to let some water in to float NP. Phew!  This is the first time I have every got No Problem on to the cill, and the last I hope!!

Pulling in for diesel the heavens opened,  poor Vic was in the middle of putting the fuel into the tank when an almighty rain storm hit.. in fact he had to stop such was the heaviness of the rain.. luckily I had seen it coming and just got the back covers up on No Problem in time.. he was soaked!!

After about ten minutes of torrential rain, the sun shone again, and we finished filling up with diesel at a decent 55p, filled with water and continued on our way.. still enjoying the wonderful scenery..

I popped into Godmanchester on arrival to collect the post, then caught the bus to St Ives to collect post that I had sent there… well we were suppose to be on our way back downstream by now.. so I had arranged for post to be delivered to the various places as we past.. anyway that all done we have settled once again in the delightful park here.. One bit of post hasn’t arrived yet, I do hope it does tomorrow, I wouldn’t mind going to the GOBA moorings that are fairly close to the marina where we got diesel, the moorings look really nice…