A new windlass for Vic, and been there - got the photo etc!

Cropredy to Williamscot, Oxford Canal, 1 mile 1 lock

Alexander contacted me a couple of weeks ago.. “I have a windlass you might like to have”…

Alexander had his own boat a few years ago, and ‘invented’ his own way of getting through the Claydon and Cropredy lock flights.  He moored his boat in Cropredy, and was often up and down these two flights.  It’s the paddle gear. you see, that makes the flights difficult, but Alexander overcame that with his ratchet windlass!  All home made it is, and you can just about see it in Vic’s hands in the pic..

We pulled the pins on Cropredy in the early afternoon to travel just a short way into the countryside.  We had planned on going to Banbury for the weekend, but we were warned of a Festival in Banbury this weekend.  I googled it, and sure enough The Banbury Folk Festival!  I suppose I wouldn’t have minded going to that, but Vic was not keen, so a quieter weekend was planned.

Vic couldn’t wait to try ‘his’ new windlass out..(I will get my turn on it!), and once No Problem was in the lock at Cropredy he used it to lift the paddle on the bottom gates… WOW!.. ratchet, ratchet, ratchet!… Magic stuff!!

This windlass works on a ratchet system making it so much easier to turn the stiff lock gear.  Thankyou so much Alexander. . It has a good home, and will be one of Vic’s favourite toys tools for sure.

There were a couple of youngsters watching my antics at the main bridge at Cropredy.. and there was I making a complete fool of myself.. but I had to have it.  After all Paul Balmer told me that Andrew Denny has one, as well as himself.. Although I can’t find the one on Paul’s blog.. In the email from Paul…

“When you get to Cropredy - don't forget to moor in the correct place and climb onto the parapet at the end of the bridge to take the classic picture”

But I couldn’t get on the darn parapet.. I am not as agile as I used to be and I couldn’t just jump up there.  Ann (NB Moore2Life) started trying to shove my bum up the wall and we both ended up in heap laughing till our sides hurt.. weakness then set in and I had to walk away!  I hadn’t been able to moor No Problem in the most ideal place as there was another narrowboat moored just behind her, needed to be back a bit to be perfect.. but I did it!.. I eventually scrambled up the wall and with camera in hand, trying to steady my shaking legs got ‘the classic picture’.. Just like Andrew’s