Rather better than our experience recently at Day's Lock - which was also a hydraulic failure on the lower gates, meaning no manual option. There were two boats in the lock (coming, or trying to come, downstream) Heading upstream, we arrived fairly soon after the event and then spent nearly 5 hours awaiting the repair to be completed. No complaints at all as regards the Lockie (the very nice Rowena) or the mechanic - when he arrived. They were both worked hard and were as helpful as they could be under the circumstances. They managed to get the upper gates open and the boats inside backed-out of the lock - heading for the nearest pub/mooring.
Those of us down below just had to wait. We eventually got to our planned mooring in Abingdon at gone 19.30 - in the rain.
Incidentally, Rowena - who is mother of Aiden at Sandford, is normally a relief 'Keeper above Oxford, but she was 'triple-manning' Benson, Days and Clifton due to holidays etc!!! It was July FFS!
We got to Culham at 18.30 - with some trepidation, only to find the wonderful Tony still on duty - a nice end to an interesting day.
Our trip to Abingdon is normally a 5-hour job. This day it was nearly 10.
That's boating!
