Be Prepared?

Saturday 7th July, 2012 at Crofton Pumping Station.
An early start, as we had arranged to meet the Scout Group at Crofton at 9:30am, which was two miles and four locks away. We started off at 7:30am in heavy rain but it eased off a bit as we got closer.
At the last lock before Crofton, we met up with Andy and Janine of nb "Scavenger" and butty coming the other way. We both stopped below the lock so that we could buy 96 litres of diesel from them to top up our tank. They have been operating their boats for ten years on the K&A selling boaters needs.

Back in the spring, we had rather rashly invited our local scout group to come and join us for a weekend to learn some boating skills. We could not have anticipated that it would be the wettest weekend of the year (so far!). The group arrived at the same time as nb "Scavenger," so they got a chance to see the rare sight of a boat refuelling on the canal. There were three "Leaders" and five "Explorer Scouts" varying in age from 14 to 17.

R briefed the group and we set off at about 10:00am in fairly gentle rain to go up the six locks on to the summit pound of the K&A. Each of the Explorer Scouts had a chance to steer MM out of one lock and up to and into the next lock, while the others worked the lock or walked up to the next lock to set it for us. Luckily the rain stopped and we were able to dry off.

When we arrived at the top, everyone climbed onto MM, four in the front and the other four in the stern and we sailed the mile or so to the turning point (or "Winding Hole"), going through the 502 yard Bruce Tunnel on the way.

After we turned round, we went back through the tunnel, at which point it started to rain again. Fine for the four scouts at the back, who went inside, but the four in the front were getting cold and wet! Just before the top lock, we stopped and everyone came into the boat for some lunch and to warm up. Lunch for the "lads" seemed to comprise mainly chocolate bars and pork pies! It was a bit cosy with ten of us on board!!!

After lunch, we went back down the six locks with each scout as well as the Leaders having a chance to steer. At the bottom, R turned MM again and we moored up outside the Crofton Pumping Station. We all walked into the Pumping Station together to have some tea and to take the tour. Unfortunately the station was "in steam" last weekend, but even when not working it is very impressive. There are two beam engines, one installed in 1812 and the other in 1846. They were designed to lift water into the summit pound of the K&A, which would otherwise dry out. These days, the job is routinely done by a large elecric pump, but the beam engines both still work, and are still capable of doing the job for which they were installed 200 years ago. We are hoping to come back for one of the three remaining "in steam" weekends later this year.

The scouts then departed to pitch their tents at a local camp site and to have a "much looked forward to" barbecue. Lets hope they didn't get too wet! They will be coming back to MM tomorrow after breakfast to continue their "boating experience" - watch this space...
Today: 6 miles, 16 locks and 5.6 hours.
Trip:  143 miles, 113 locks and 113.3 hours (258.1 total).