River status

[Outinthedinghy]

Just thought it was worth putting in a comment about the current status of the River between Boveney lock and Abingdon.

I've moved a boat through this section of the River the last couple of days.

All locks are on public power apart from Marsh and Days which were on the wheel due to a problem with the public power. Days lock is a delight to hand wind it's no problem at all. Marsh is heavier.

Mapledurham lock had one lower gate not opening. Strictly 10ft maximum beam according to the keeper. Diver job apparently it may be a problem with the inverted goalposts.

The shoal above Benson lock is quite a long way out so worth keeping an eye on. It was dark when I passed so not sure about the position of the marker but I did clip the ground a tiny bit (twin shafts 3ft4 draft) and I was well out as I am aware of this shoal.

Other than that and a tree across the downstream span of Cookham bridge on Saturday the River is looking and working lovely.

I know we get some negative comments about the EA but the world's greatest waterway is available for pleasure use again which has got to be a Good Thing and the EA patrol boat teams are certainly responsible for this.

I just hope people get out and enjoy it.

 

[TrueBlue]

Thanks for the info.
I know that some - who can be bothered to post at all - would like to hammer the EA management, but for the record I'm impressed by the plethora of emails and notifications from the team OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY - trying to keep boaters up to date.
Folks don't seem to realise tha EA staff are just as susceptable to the pox as the rest of us...
WE have only ourselves to consider.
EA have a larger number of field staff to consider and have to be more cautious.

If only more boaters got off their glutimus maximae and supported their boating organizations, then perhaps, perhaps things might change.

 

[Parabordi]

Thanks for the info.
I know that some - who can be bothered to post at all - would like to hammer the EA management, but for the record I'm impressed by the plethora of emails and notifications from the team OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY - trying to keep boaters up to date.
Folks don't seem to realise tha EA staff are just as susceptable to the pox as the rest of us...
WE have only ourselves to consider.
EA have a larger number of field staff to consider and have to be more cautious.

If only more boaters got off their glutimus maximae and supported their boating organizations, then perhaps, perhaps things might change.

I dont disagree they performed well this week, just a shame over 200+ people had to complain before they did that!

 

[Old Crusty]

I dont disagree they performed well this week, just a shame over 200+ people had to complain before they did that!

It's a very agreeable start for acting Waterways Manager John Dutson , who, unlike his four predecessors, is a boater and listened to the concerns of boaters and cracked on with fixing the faults.

BZ JD & B1.

 

[Freeman30]

Mapledurham lock is now all working with public power as of 18:00 25-May i.e.last monday night

 

[Old Crusty]

The EA's Maria Herlihy who manages the infrastructure maintenance works is reporting regularly about breakdowns and fixes on twitter for you twitterarti:

Maria herlihy (@maria_herlihy) on Twitter

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Thanks for that link.

I don't have a Twitter account but it is visible to me from your link which is good.

 

[Gibeltarik]

The EA's Maria Herlihy who manages the infrastructure maintenance works is reporting regularly about breakdowns and fixes on twitter for you twitterarti:

Maria herlihy (@maria_herlihy) on Twitter

Thank you - but I thought patrol boats were managed by Navigation? Is there a power struggle within EA to admit to the cock-ups and take responsibilty - public power not working after a long shutdown?

 

[Old Crusty]

Thank you - but I thought patrol boats were managed by Navigation? Is there a power struggle within EA to admit to the cock-ups and take responsibilty - public power not working after a long shutdown?

No power struggle. Maria works in Ops Delivery, the department that manages M&E engineering, lock breakdown repairs. Patrol boats are operated by Waterways. The two departments have always worked together but there is a new 'can do' approach that is welcome.