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Post by Jim on Nov 28, 2018 17:35:26 GMT
A note just for andrew. Now that I can see you are kosher I can reveal that I too have been a spy, though I can't say exactly where. I was minding a flock of sheep just this side of a border as cover. Yes, a Shepherd spy!
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Post by kris on Nov 28, 2018 17:40:52 GMT
Looks like we've found bodie then. The dynamic duo back together again.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 17:42:55 GMT
A note just for andrew. Now that I can see you are kosher I can reveal that I too have been a spy, though I can't say exactly where. I was minding a flock of sheep just this side of a border as cover. Yes, a Shepherd spy! naughtyfoxwe have a problem, Jim has been reunited with his βjokeβ book π§π§π§
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Post by naughtyfox on Nov 28, 2018 18:04:35 GMT
A note just for andrew. Now that I can see you are kosher I can reveal that I too have been a spy, though I can't say exactly where. I was minding a flock of sheep just this side of a border as cover. Yes, a Shepherd spy! naughtyfox we have a problem, Jim has been reunited with his βjokeβ book π§π§π§ I sign out often as I have other things to do, I realise I spend too much time here. I'll stay signed-in until bedtime (in an hour - and back to my book; reading in bed is a favourite pastime - which is one reason I like boating, back to the simple pleasures). Anyway, in defence of MJG, I think he's 'OK' all in all. Somewhat of a 'special case' and I wonder sometimes what his wife thinks of him spending so much time trawling forums (sorry - fora(s)!), but I suppose it keeps him out of trouble in the Outside World. You have to admit he's hard to beat at the argument game, he does run rings round people and have the resourcefulness to have back-up facts, plus a good memory. He's also quite witty, and I'm sure he's the kind of person to assist someone in need. Apart from his recent plagiarism regarding the photo competition (pinching the idea from here), I won't criticise him (too much).
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Post by TonyDunkley on Nov 28, 2018 20:36:02 GMT
You can take most of the effect of the wind out of the reckoning at locks by not farting about shutting any gates behind you, and by getting the boat right into the gates and stemming them before getting off to work a lock. Forget about using 'lock landings' completely, . . . they're just a pointless waste of time and effort. The one possible exception to shutting gates behind you is at the last lock before you tie-up, and only then when the gates and paddles at the end you left the lock from are noticeably/significantly leaking less than the other end. Thanks Tony, when you say 'stemming them' what do you mean (think I know but always wise to ask). As I get a bit more confident I'll try some of the tricks out.
'Stemming' gates simply means having the boat's stem, with or without a fender, hard up to the gate. Up-hilling and drawing off a lock you would leave the boat in 'ahead' gear, engine at idling or just above, and the tiller roped/tied about half arm's length over to the side from which you got ashore. Having drawn both bottom paddles - draw the side the boat is laying against first - get back on and shove the gates open with the boat between the mitres but angled towards one side of the lock or the other so you're laying against one wall by the time you're all the way into the chamber. The gate on the opposite side will often/sometimes tend to swing back closed because of the water that the boat displaces out of the lock chamber as it's going in. For the moment it's probably best if you carry on working uphill locks with the boat rising in the chamber in whatever way you've been doing it so far and are happy with. When you've got more confidence and feel like trying out some other ways of working, put a post up on here and we can talk about some methods that will speed you up round locks and take quite a bit of physical effort out things too. When you get to the Cowroast and into the down-hillers, I'll explain how you can set a lock filling, get back aboard, and pull open a top gate with a line that'll release itself as you take the boat past the top gates into the lock. There's a similar method for pulling bottom gates open with the boat as well - saves no end of time and effort, and it's a lot safer because it saves you from a lot of clambering up and down wet, slimy lock chamber walls.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 21:30:31 GMT
Thanks Tony, when you say 'stemming them' what do you mean (think I know but always wise to ask). As I get a bit more confident I'll try some of the tricks out.
'Stemming' gates simply means having the boat's stem, with or without a fender, hard up to the gate.Β I prefer the word βbowβ...not only do most people understand which end of the boat that is...it doesnβt look like the word stern!
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