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26th June 2010

Hockley Port to Oozells Street Loop and back. BCN.

Bright and early start today, well, almost, we are nearly underway by 11:00am. Set off to finally test the pump out installation and get a bit of diesel thrown in. Uneventful trip out into the mainline, despite the First Mate's now customary panic at exiting the port after we ran aground a few attempts ago. Chug towards old turn with nary another boat stirring, and as we approach the sea Life centre, I discover why. There are dragon boat races afoot down Brindley Place. Good job we weren't on our way to the Mailbox. As my yak outlet is on the left side, I've come this far to enter the further entrance to the Oozells Street Loop, so that said service is on the side of the dock facilities when I moor up. Bit of a problem, as the turn is something like a 270^o angle from this approach. Perhaps I'm fortunate that there's a dragon boat race on as I go about this tricky manoeuvre, which I manage in a miraculous fashion given the number of people watching.

Coming into Sherborne Wharf, the dockside is thankfully vacant, but as is always the case, the trip boat comes through and someone else exits their mooring just as I tie up. It's a shiny boat, too, so he's extremely ginger at coming past. Once I am fully secured, the fun with the pump out starts. Not realising the process when I'd installed the kit, I've got a rather powerful macerator on the exit of the crap tank. However, pump-out is what it says, and they have a pump too. So the nasty stuff will only exit when both pumps are on, not an entirely satisfactory arrangement, but you live and learn. [I now know this was Ł9 wasted, as with a pump of that calibre I can pump out myself quite happily into the disposal point at Hockley]. After learning a valuable lesson, I then fill up with Ł50 quids' worth of equally valuable diesel. Ouch. Back to Hockley and the First Mate appears to have become an expert in steering strategy at odds with a diminishing ability on my part, and I am admonished for making a horse's arse of the turns into both the Soho Loop and Hockley. The First Mate's position being that I should have the courage of my convictions and keep the throttle on. Easy for you to say... Mind you, the reverse back into dock is perhaps the straightest I have ever achieved. It's the consistency I need to work on.

	This	Total
Miles	3.14	264.13
Locks	-	200

Height Gain		-
Height Loss		-
Height		453'0"