What next , I wonder . . .

The canal here is very river-like in its quality, and meanders along succesfully avoiding all the villages on route. I eventually arrived at Foxton at about 3.30pm and there was no queue of boats waiting to lock down. The lock-keeper set the top lock for me and in I went.

After he had drawn the paddle, I noticed that Chyandour was drifting back towards the cill of the top gate and applied some forward engine thrust to pull it forward. Imagine my surprise, then, when, instead of going forwards, it went backwards even faster! Not a good idea!

The long and the short of it was that the gearbox control cable had parted company with itself somewhere between the controller and the gearbox, and it was stuck in reverse.

The lock-keeper carried out all the necessary procedures and, after refilling the lock, I was able to pull the boat out and moor to the top bollards.

It just so happens that Foxton Boat Services operates out of the Bridge 61 pub and shop by the bottom of the flight and, when I went to see the owner there he was quite content to sell me a new cable to fit for myself. This was good.

Fortunately the fitting was not a long job and by 5.00pm I was ready once again to begin the descent of the flight. This was completed without further incident, and I moored up just below the locks at about 6.15pm.

These "just so happens" are happening quite a lot - aren't they? God is definitely good.