Crinan Canal Closed

[Corona]

Closed today, Sunday, 17/06 for repairs.
Top beam in one of the gates in lock 6 at Cairnbaan was so rotten it broke. Probably take most of the week to find a new beam and fit it. The big timbers lying here and there in the long grass are swing bars, (awaiting the end of the work to rule before fitting) but perhaps one of them that has not decayed too much could be cut down for a beam. Since only a couple of recently recruited guys are not in the dispute that might slow the repair down.

[Bodach na mara]

Disappointing news. Still nothing on the Scottish Canals web site earlier today to let us know when it may be open again but some information is there now.

[mm5aho]

Just arrived at Crinan to take a shortcut. Maybe not!
Been a tad windy this last few days. 4 tired sailors. Left rum this morning. Lochmaddy morning before.
Geoff

[Corona]

They got some boats through today using a crane to swing the gate, they stayed open late to allow transits to complete. They intend to work on it tonight and have cut up one of the swing bars lying close by to make a replacement balance beam. It looks as if they are striving to keep the canal open so my dire warning of a closure may be reduced to one of a series of interruptions.

[mm5aho]

We often only open 1 gate, being such a narrow boat, wonder if they might let us thru like that? 2 big boats on boatyard visitor moorings with fenders out, suggests there might be a queue?

[mm5aho]

Got thru today, but slow as usual. Two Russian boatloads behind us, and others going a bit slow. In at 0830, out at 1545. The days of 4.5 hour passages there are gone it seems. The office staff seemed to do well fixing the lock 6 arm, but the whole atmosphere in that organisation seems sad. Slow sailing in Loch Fyne, prob stop somewhere for the night, Gourock in the morning.
Nice to meet up with the two pilots who were busy there today.

[Cowherd]

What do you think it would take to make getting through a bit faster? Would it even be possible?