Jrtm Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 That would have been at Foxton, she used to do the same whenever we took a pair of boats through too. the current lot of retards volunteers are completely different and in need of some training in how to deal with paying customers, it's almost worth not going that way to avoid dealing with them. Tom Its a shame the best of them always go ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 I was definitely told by the Lock keeper that I was not allowed to progress to the centre pound, because that was the rule. Are you suggesting that I made that up, or that he was wrong? It seems quite obvious to me that he was saying the volocky was wrong. Do try not to always jump to the worst conclusion! Bad for the blood pressure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Charlie Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 I was definitely told by the Lock keeper that I was not allowed to progress to the centre pound, because that was the rule. Are you suggesting that I made that up, or that he was wrong? That he was wrong. Most times we go up or down there's a boat held in the pound. Sometimes it's us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) That he was wrong. Most times we go up or down there's a boat held in the pound. Sometimes it's us. Thanks, that is what i thought you meant, but it was not entirely clear. I could not understand the Voluntary lock keeper's approach, as waiting in the central pound has been standard practice for decades. I first went through Foxton in the 1960's in an old working boat, and we waited in the central pound for another one to come up. That was in the days before red and white posts but no one got in a mess. The problem these days seems to be that (some) Foxton volunteers seem unable to recognize the difference between experienced and novice crews, and treat everyone as if it was there first encounter with a staircase of locks.. For some odd reason it is never like that at Watford, where the Voluntaruy Lock keepers usually let us through unsupervised after we have been admitted into the flight. Edited October 20, 2016 by David Schweizer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted October 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 The problem these days seems to be that (some) Foxton volunteers seem unable to recognize the difference between experienced and novice crews, and treat everyone as if it was there first encounter with a staircase of locks.. For some odd reason it is never like that at Watford, where the Voluntaruy Lock keepers usually let us through unsupervised after we have been admitted into the flight. In their defence I have to say that going both ways, we were just pretty much left to get on with it. The guy coming up did mention "you have to open the red paddles first" at which point I recited the rhyme, after that we were left to get on with it. Different volockies on the 2 days. However the CRT work boat was moored in the middle pound yesterday, preventing boats passing, but then I suppose we are into a fairly quiet time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Unlikely, as striking an employee of the canal company wouldn't go down well. Striking anyone else in public doesn't go down well nowadays - but I'm told that, in the more ramshackle areas of our cities, it still occasionally happens. It's certainly documented that boatmen (many of whom, I assume, were employed by canal companies) used to get into fights with each other. So, perhaps it's not as unlikely as you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnB Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 How can volunteers without expertise be allowed the to dictate how we use the fatalities we have paid for ???? We too were somewhat peeved when Kathy was told that the locks were closed when she inquired at 2:45. A bit later on as I went down to sort out rubbish etc. I discovered the Volockies bringing a boat up the flight I did ask if we could come down and pass in the middle (as we have done on previous occasions) but this was refused. Chatting later I discovered the volly had no interest in boating or boaters needs but was there because he enjoyed the power and needed something to do since retiring! Now we build our boats,pay large sums of money to be able to use the waterways and its locks and in doing so provide entertainment to the non-boating visitors. Should there be a category of volunteer boater ;-) John & Kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted October 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 How can volunteers without expertise be allowed the to dictate how we use the fatalities we have paid for ???? We too were somewhat peeved when Kathy was told that the locks were closed when she inquired at 2:45. A bit later on as I went down to sort out rubbish etc. I discovered the Volockies bringing a boat up the flight I did ask if we could come down and pass in the middle (as we have done on previous occasions) but this was refused. Chatting later I discovered the volly had no interest in boating or boaters needs but was there because he enjoyed the power and needed something to do since retiring! Now we build our boats,pay large sums of money to be able to use the waterways and its locks and in doing so provide entertainment to the non-boating visitors. Should there be a category of volunteer boater ;-) John & Kathy Did you complain? If not it will continue to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmck Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Our experience of these locks this year was awful. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=87463&hl= Thinking back, only two moments of concern in regards to locks this year. Both involved volunteers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Vagabond Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 How can volunteers without expertise be allowed the to dictate how we use the fatalities we have paid for ???? We too were somewhat peeved when Kathy was told that the locks were closed when she inquired at 2:45. A bit later on as I went down to sort out rubbish etc. I discovered the Volockies bringing a boat up the flight I did ask if we could come down and pass in the middle (as we have done on previous occasions) but this was refused. Chatting later I discovered the volly had no interest in boating or boaters needs but was there because he enjoyed the power and needed something to do since retiring! Now we build our boats,pay large sums of money to be able to use the waterways and its locks and in doing so provide entertainment to the non-boating visitors. Should there be a category of volunteer boater ;-) John & Kathy Do we have to pay for the fatalities now? sounds like a dead con to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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