Well, Monday the 12th of July was an eventful day. We set out from Stowe Hill in the morning, ready for a full return to Hillmorton in the evening. We did well, enjoyed our trip up the Wilton then Buckby flights of the Grand Union with Katherine, a new boat and new boaters. After stopping at Buckby top to use the sanitary point, we travelled by Norton Junction, then into the Braunston tunnel. It was the first time we have ever not met a boat coming the other way! Having seen the tip in Waterways World about pointing our headlamp up to the right so we could see the roof and sides of the tunnel better, we had much the best tunnel trip ever.
Into Braunston top lock, change helmsperson as usual, Pete worked the downward gates, Elizabeth drove out and CLUNK. The tiller handle dropped with a loud clang. From there, she could only manoeuvre for half of the full tiller sweep. A loud and long sound of the horn brought Pete back from setting the next lock down and together, they encouraged the boat heading up to leave the towpath and GO UP the lock - so we could pull in without hitting them. We tied up Bella and investigated.
OK, here goes. The tiller is connected to the rudder with a long vertical shaft with a protruding bit at the bottom which sits in a collar jutting out from the stern. The shaft had popped out of the collar, allowing the rudder/tiller shaft to drop. Pete had seen this on other boats and knew that with a few heaves, lifts, wiggles and shoves, he could lift it and drop the protruding bit back into the collar. But, oh, the work. He walked down a few locks to get connectivity on the phone (all this would have happened in a hole in the mobile net!!), called our friends at Blue Haven Marine and was affirmed as doing the right thing. So, back to Bella, back to standing on the stern gunwale and stern fender, back to heaving, lifting, dropping, heaving... In the meantime, we both decided that River Canal Rescue might lend a hand and Elizabeth went to call. As we waited, Pete decided to get out the socket set and to undo the bolts which held the tiller/rudder shaft in place, allowing it more wiggle room. Woo Hoo - it worked. We called RCR back again to let them know that they weren't needed after all and we were away.
Five locks later, we sailed into Braunston to be met by a call from the side and there they were - Berkhamstead and crew, one of the boats of the flotilla which had passed us on Saturday, moored up. Insisting that we stop and chat, they allowed us to find a mooring first! We finished our busy day of 10 miles and 13 locks drinking home-made wine from the bows of Berkhamstead, chatting about religion, politics and planning. Oh, and boats.
