There is still an amber warning in force so we set off cautiously at 9.00am and got through Boulters Lock eventually, again we had trouble mooring to the right because the weir was flowing so fast that it was pushing us away from the landing stage. The lock keeper then appeared but only to change the sign from "lock keeper on duty" to "self service" then saw our predicament so said he would open the lock for us but then we would have to do it ourselves. He said he was closing the weir so things should calm down soon. It was much calmer when we got through the others side for a bit then we got to Cookham Lock and the lock keeper told us that there were red warnings from Marlow for the next three locks.
It took us ages to fight our way against the current when we were getting close to Marlow - 1600 revs doing 1 mph - so we had no choice but to find a mooring and stop - the water was over the top of the landing stage. Marlow Lock clearly displaying a red warning "Strong Stream Advice Do not attempt to Navigate Strong and dangerous flows". We are also not insured if we do proceed and anything happens. Marlow is beautiful so it was no problem being here for the day. Apparently this is the result of all the rain they have had in Oxford being discharged to avoid flooding - thankfully we seem to have avoided the rain for a couple of days!
Fingers crossed we will be able to get going again tomorrow.
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| Sun going down in Maidenhead. |
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| Look how fast the river is flowing - the bubbles are because they have opened the weirs to discharge the flood waters. |
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| The river level is about to overflow - it's quite a step down to get off the boat! |
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| Lock to the left - weir to the right - when I took this we didn't know what was in store for us! |
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| Mornin' |
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| Calmer waters - it's not bad here because it is so wide. Cliveden House sitting high above the river. |
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| One legged Moorhen! |
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| Once upon a time... |
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| Prepared for the floods. |
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| Hi sis! |
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| Approaching Marlow we can't even keep up with the man strolling with his dog! |
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| Houses nestled in the hill of Quarry Wood. |
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| That's the landing stage - looks like I'm going to get a bootie jumping off here! |
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| Walking through Marlow. |
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| The weir is raging down near the Compleat Angler. |
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| Blossom in today's garden! |
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| Goodnight Marlow. |
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