Locks!

We left Stegeborgs Hamn and soon arrived at our first lock (sluss) at Mem where we tied up and waited for the lock captain to come register us, and give us a briefing.  We learnt how to traverse locks and then waited our turn, not very long.  The first lock was a bit new for us but we did OK with direction from the lock captain.  together with the first yacht we only just fit in the lock!  The guy in front was watching our bow nervously.

The same in the second lock.  After that we decided to tie up on the port side, the other side from the first yacht so we could overlap and fit better.  But we had trouble getting David off to handle the lines, hit a jetty (a little bit), had to circle around to try again  Just out of the lock we had to tie up to a finger mooring (short, less than our 16m, and really narrow, not even half a metre wide, you can't walk on it), I had to jump down off our high ocean going bow!  Again we entertained the watchers, walking or cycling or just sitting in the cafes for dinner, but eventually got the job done.  The locals have built-in ladders at their bow, the foreigners have to find a ladder to get on and off.  We went out to dinner for a change (and because it was my birthday).

The next day we left the cafe marina at 10:20, the wind caught the bow and pushed us in the wrong directing so we had to do a U turn.  This made us 2 minutes late for the bridge so we waited until 11 for the next opening (this is the only bridge so far that has scheduled openings).

Today we had 12 Locks.  Twice we traversed double locks and after spirited discussion about if they count as 2 or just 1 lock, I was forced to count them as 2 - the information they give the skippers does, so...

I feel quite sore in my back, glutes, and legs.  (Oh, and feet). Hauling on lines to help control the boat takes muscle power. Fortunately as we get better at it there’s less muscle work.

We've settled on the perfect system to go UP through a lock:  two of us jump (sorry, step) off at a short jetty at the entrance, one carries the bow line, and the other the stern line, we then walk the yacht (like walking the dog) as Martin motors in, the stern line is looped over a peg vertically above the stern and then made tight as possible, the bow line is looped over a peg forward of the bow.  On the boat, the bow line is taken back to a winch in the cockpit and wound in as we rise in the lock (the water gushing out of the upper lock gate can push hard on the bow.)  When the water level is up, boat is level with the top of the lock and the up stream gates are opened, the lines loosened and thrown on the boat and the crew board and away we go.  For double (or flight of 7!) locks then we don't get back on, we walk the boat into the next chamber and do it all again.

Today, the 08th we've left Berg quite early (9am) when the locks opened.  We took the flight of 7 locks and then rested in the lagoon at the top, we got ice creams and played "Adventure Golf" (mini-golf).

Here’s a link to a timelapse Martin took as we went up the flight of 7 locks:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/053njOA1SZn-TxgL4axcPpsjg

We traversed 16 locks (and about 10 bridges) today.  At one of the double locks I had trouble getting back on and tried two other places.  I finally struggled on board to a standing ovation from the watching crowd, I gave a bow...



Then we crossed a busy road on an aqueduct! The canal goes across the road on a bridge.  Then six (!) remote controlled bridges.  The trick there is to slow down early to give them time to see you on the cameras and stop the traffic and open the bridge (a white light flashes with the red to say they are preparing), then motor through on the green light.  Then another acqueduct, a remote controlled bridge, and a final lock before Lake Boren - only a rise of about 30cm and it was the first manually operated lock, no hydraulics.

At 5pm-ish we are tied up along side Borensburg.  There's a caravan park here (there often is) and a cafe/restaurant that we will check out later.  Feeling tired and sore but I know I'll get used to it!