TNC On Tour April 2007 Page 8

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Tour 2007

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April 2007

Index

8 - Portobello to Digby Bridge, inc Naas Branch - Grand Canal Circular, Dublin Lines and Naas Branch.

Saturday 7th April 2007

We had agreed to meet Martin Fogarty at Lock No 1 of the Dublin Line at 07:30, so we pushed off at 06:40 in the first light of dawn. The Goggin's complete with dogs had madly agreed to come out for the day and Brian said they hoped to be at the bottom lock around the time we started off.
We arrived at Lock No 1 at 07:20, just as Martin Fogarty arrived in his little blue van. Neil barely had time to go down the weed hatch to clear the mornings dredgings, when we were ushered into the lock. By the time we got to Lock No 2, the Goggin's had arrived at the Luas stop armed with breakfast rolls all round and some speciality ham for lunch.
We soon got into a good routine, only one other W.I. member of staff came out to help Martin Fogarty. Come 11:45 we were at the top of Lock No 12 and saying our good byes to Martin Fogarty. The only "problem" was a couple of quite old lads on their scramble motor bikes, who left us alone. After an hour struggling through the trashed weed we passed through Hazelhatch, many of the boaters popping out, surprised to see us back so soon. We had a notion of getting up the Naas Branch that night, but we were not, or should I say we WERE prepared for what we found!
Anne Goggin drew the short straw and got off at Sallins to collect the Subaru Gogginmobile from the Red Cow park and ride. At 16:05 we turned left at Soldiers Island and immediately went down to tick over, hoping to not disturb the blanket weed infested section. After a bit of a struggle at the end (not helped by having to drop of crew on the shallow landing) We entered the bottom of the five locks. No problem on this lock, but as we went through the M7 Motorway bridge we could see rather a lot of water issuing from one of the top gate paddles of Lock No 2.
Lock No 2 is a stunning canal side location, the preserved Odlums Mill buildings are all still there, along with a covered dock and covered walkway. Unfortunately the faulty paddle was raised to try to clear it, the result being that it was stuck further up. Neil got in exploring mode and said sod it, we would sort it out on the way back.
At that time we decided to leave all the locks full and come back the same night, while we still had extra help. Neil trickled along to lock No 3 while the crew walked ahead. This was just as well as within a couple of hundred feet of the lock the 2ft 3ins draught Earnest ground to a halt, with the bow sliding up a silt bank. There was plenty of water above the lock, so Neil ordered the bottom gates to be held open (in case they slammed) and ALL the top paddles lifted. With Earnest blasting away full tilt, the extra level and flow created by the rush of water, a channel was ground through the silt bank and we ground to a halt in the lock chamber with some clothing stuck round the prop.
Earnest was gently raised in the lock, while Neil removed the offending garment from the prop. The pound above was in better state, after negotiating Tandy's Bridge the last two locks came into view. Lock No 4 nearly proved our undoing as Neil noticed that we were not going up very fast, with all the top paddles up, he looked around and could see daylight through the bottom of the gates...one of the paddles was missing!
The top paddles were shut off and Neil reversed the boat into the bottom corner and got a crew member to hold Earnest tight in the corner. Out came our secret weapon, that Neil had kept for such emergencies, a half inch thick bit of 3ft x 3ft plywood......it was a perfect fit ! On the way up Neil noticed the paddle, rod and rack laying in the gate recess, if we had more time we probably could have removed the rack, refitted the paddle and then the rack.
The top gates of the top two gates were something else, resembling a moss and weed covered waterfall, the gate structure hardly being visible! being a Saturday evening there were a lot of locals out for walks, amazed to see a boat. This was rather spoilt by some drunken youths, throwing lager cans about. I suppose the Police notices warning that this was an alcohol free zone was a giveaway! Coming out of the top lock Earnest ploughed slowly through the "water garden" and managed a wind in the entrance to the Corbally Branch (This is navigable up to the dropped Limerick Road Bridge.) With a bit of persuasion Earnest came to rest on the outer bit of the wharf (18:00).
Anne had arrived back with the car, but Brian said they would lock wheel in the car, to see us out OK before the took the long drive back to Castleconnell. After a quarter of an hour stop and photo shoot we proceeded back down at a good pace. Neil managed to retrieve the "portopaddle". The silted up section was passed though at full tilt, which certainly finished off the dredging! We decided to go for it at the second lock and went down with the half gate paddle stuck open. Neil had shut the inner and outer doors and removed stuff from the rear cockpit. There was rather a deluge of water over the stern as Earnest had to be reversed back to get the bottom gates open.
The Goggin's saw us down to Lock No 1, then we said our goodbyes. We went as fast as we dared out of the bottom of the branch, to try to clear some of the blanket weed, hitting the Dublin Line at 19:30. We started another spag bol off, deciding to stop, where we could when it was ready. Our mooring for the night ended up in the half light, just above Digby Lock No 16.

Early morning departure round the Circular Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Circular Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

The start of the Circular Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin. The Dublin Line continues to the left.

Double Lock No 1, Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

The hatchback car some metre below the surface just above the new footbridge. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Black Horse Bridge. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Looking up at Lock No 5. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Looking up from Lock No 5. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

The Goggin's have madly come out for a day on the Grand. Lock No 5. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Lock No 6. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Lock No 7. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Just as well Brian came with the Breakfast Rolls!...the Big Chef is closed. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Looking up at Lock No 8. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Well, it amused Peter Wright!

Lock No 8. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal. Dublin.

Double Lock No 9. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 11. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back down at Lock No 10. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 11. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 12. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

We say goodbye to Martin Fogarty, our locky for the passage to and from Dublin. Lock No 12. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

The Omer lock house, just above Lock No 12. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Double Lock No 13. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Double Lock No13. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No15. Dublin Line of the Grand Canal.

Sallins, at Soldiers Island we leave the Dublin Line of the Grand Canal and head up the short Naas Line.

Railway Bridge, Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at Soldiers Island. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at the Railway Bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 1. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

The M7 bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

The M7 bridge, Lock No 2 in the distance. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking up at Lock No 2. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 2. As can be seen the top paddle we had difficulty in closing had a problem before we arrived! Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at the M7 Bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 2. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

The fortunately preserved Odlum's Mills and Lock No 2. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking up at Lock No 3. Earnest is about to grind to a halt as the channel is silted up. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Earnest stuck below Lock No 3, waiting to be assisted by flushing some water down. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at Tandy's Bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal. No one spots the missing paddle!

Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking up from Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Looking back at Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas Basin. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas. The Corbally extension. This is navigable a short distance to the dropped Limerick Road Bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas Basin. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Coming back down, Lock No 5. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

We do our best not to disturb the water gardens, that is Lock No 5! Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Porto Paddle! Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Porto Paddle! ....we may need this at Lock No2...Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

The displaced paddle at Lock No 4. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Tandy's Bridge. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 3. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Odlum's Mills and Lock No 2. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

Lock No 1. Naas Line of the Grand Canal.

The Tour Continues...

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