Is it me.......

[ianc1200]

.......being too grumpy, but I find the situation of locks being on public operation on a Bank Holiday, today Sonning at lunchtime, Mapledurham 15.45, whilst the attached lock cafe's are open? Afterall, what is the prime purpose of the locks, and how come they manage to staff the cafe and not the locks? Obviously missing something here!

IanC

 

[boatone]

Can't comment on why the locks were on Self Service but don't think we can confuse lock operations with the refreshment facilities which are usually staffed by wives and/or helpers rather than the lock keepers themselves.

Last weekend was category D in the new charter meaning target manning from 0900 to 1800 hrs. Haven;t been on the river myself for a few weeks now while the boat is tarted up so don't know what the conditions have been like. Is it possible lockie was on weir keeping duties?

 

[ianc1200]

The one at Mapledurham was in his office writing something up; perhaps he was the only one on duty & there was an incident which needed to be reported. Still find it strange how cafes etc can be staffed, but on a Bank Holiday, with boats waiting at both ends, perhaps more than a hundred members of the public buying teas & eating ice creams, the lock itself isn't manned. Would be understandable on a cold wet Tuesday in October, but a Bank Holiday?

 

[pande]

....... today Sonning at lunchtime, Mapledurham 15.45,
IanC

We came through Reading during lunchtime and the lockie was obviously on lunch.
Ian - we must have passed you between Reading and Sonning.