The "dreaded" Grindley Brook Staircase lock - A Narrowboat journey on the Llangollen canal.

[@warrenr4]

Thank you for this video. I am currently lurking at the bottom of these locks dreading them without lock keepers due to Covid 19. You have given me the confidence to push on , once it stops raining ! 😄

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

Glad I could help. You'll be fine, just take your time. The main worry for me was going through when it was busy. I like it quiet.

[@darnbunny1]

BEST lock video on YTube. Thank you for sharing. You and your videos are Awesome!

[@pholland6643]

The spiral brickwork on the first bridge is awesome

[@philippankhurst6680]

Lovely trip, as usual. Perfect antidote to current politics and the filthy weather

[@andrewspencer4843]

Really enjoying your vids! We’ve been walking quite a few towpaths with our two kids recently. Walked to Bunbury staircase locks and the kids were (alright, me too) fascinated with seeing a boat get from top to bottom. Next day we walked to Hurlestone Junction and today we walked from Shroppie Fly at Audlem to the number 3 lock and back. So relaxing and great to be outdoors 👍

[@pootle2768]

Sunshine! I could almost feel it warming my face. Thank you Phil

[@johnhardwick8771]

The “lock” overflow on the Llangollen canal is due to the fact that the canal is used to transport water from the River Dee to the Hurlston reservoir, the water supply for Natwich. The flow varies between 12 and 25 million gallons per day.

[@christinegibbins6105]

Thank you Phil, sat here in a very dark, wet and stormy part of the Westcountry that was a breath of Summertime.

[@robelliott8061]

Nice canal Phil,hope your ok take care.thanks for your videos .best wishes hope you have a good year.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

most ebjoyable.

[@tamitng]

Beautiful summer day. 🍀

[@annie2950]

Merry Christmas Phil. Keep warm. Xx

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

Thank you Annie, you too. :-)

[@peterpearce2011]

Merry Christmas Phil, hope you have a great time. Interesting trip on the Stair case locks, all the best from Vancouver Island, Canada

[@ilesjazz]

Just wanted to wish you a happy Xmas. Really enjoy your videos, thanks for putting them up. All the best Richard

[@anitablades6033]

What I don't get to see your Cats this time, I so look forward to seeing them!!! See you next time around thumbs up!!!

[@jontisdall6248]

Good afternoon Phil, Lovely little trip, the perfect antidote to a very drab dingy and rainy day here in South Wales. Hope the weather's better where you are currently. Best regards as always.

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

Thank you. That is one of the advantages of my videos being delayed. You get summer in the winter! :-)

[@christopherlussenden3021]

@@NarrowboatJourneys Where I live the 20th of December was 42 degrees Celsius!

[@TheBoatingAdventure]

Thanks for that Phil, I've been out on the Ouse at York this week rather colder and mistier than your vlog.

[@TairnKA]

I keep thinking, why not have a wheel instead of a crank? I feel there would be less back strain and provide constant leverage with a wheel but a crank is simpler (less weight, easier to carry, etc...). Maybe move your rubber duck to different places each episode for watchers to look for it? ;-) I hope water lose at that lock isn't normal, just out of alignment for your use. The second lock doesn't look much better then the first (or would it be 2nd and 3rd gates?), as you expressed.

[@PoetryWitch]

Sun what is that ?lol.... we have had that much rain around Shropshire and the West Mids area of late, hope your mood has lifted a little, just keep a positive mind.... hard i know sometimes but if you write positive little notes down on a daily basis of i am happy, i am enjoying my life, i am healthy, i am abundant, i need for nothing , honestly if you do this little exercise it's putting that positive energy out there to the universe, i have been doing it for about 4 months and i've had a lot of good things materialize so try it Phill worth a go x

[@P1X1E56]

Lovely relaxing video. We have done those a few times. One time I left the engine in forward while the top of the three single locks filled so that I could run up to see the state of the stair. I expected to be back in time to jump on again, but when I got back the boat was off on its own. Fortunately it was going nice and slowly and I was able to get on again when it finally made it to the bridge. Lesson learned, I’ll not do that again!

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

It all went wrong on my way back through there. I was on my way back down and another boat tried to come up! That really messed it all up.

[@robsin2810]

Phil, how is your head mate. Got over the blues.🙏🇦🇺👍

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

No, worse if anything. :-(

[@TairnKA]

I had an idea for flip down gunnel extensions (8 inch to 10 inch wide) but in a narrow lock they may be a hazard (rubbing against the walls?). ;-)

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

Yes, other boats would hit them as well.

[@TairnKA]

My original thought were to store them when going under thin tunnels and through locks but locks would be the best time to use them (moving bow to stern or back quickly) versus the roof and safer.

[@lewisgardner1660]

Thank you phill How long have you had a duck? Don’t the cats go after him? Assuming it’s a him?

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

I found him floating in the Shroppie, earlier in the year.

[@juliepalfree15]

Ah yes - we were all gazelles once........... Happy Christmas!

[@sallymander7863]

I was wondering how the cats managed with going through the locks, I expect they're used to it though and just carry on snoozing. 😊🐱

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

They don't mind.

[@sallymander7863]

Didn't think they would😊. Phil, I can't help wondering how you got on with that boat survey you had to have, not being nosey just concerned but understand if you don't want to talk about it. 🍀

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

I've not had it yet. I'm still doing remedial work around the boat in preparation for it. It's very stressful but I'm making progress with this old boat. Hopefully it will pass..?

[@sallymander7863]

Wish I could help. All the best, 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🐱😊

[@grahambaker5235]

Duck? We didn’t see a duck. Is it on the vlog?

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

There's a little yellow toy duck on my roof.

[@robsin2810]

Phil, you need a companion, otherwise you will never get better.🙏🇦🇺👍

[@APRAPR-nq2wn]

setting here on a frigid Ohio morning and not a canal within a million miles your journey doesn't look one bit "dreaded" to me lol

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

On my return trip through there it all went wrong! It was later in the day, the lock-keepers had gone to lunch and left me to go through on my own. Halfway down another boat decided to start coming up the locks. Messed it right up!

[@casperghostboat]

@@NarrowboatJourneys you're better off going through on your own, with no help. People wind the paddles up too quick and throw the boat around. There's a nice, solid, concrete cill to smack the boat on..

[@klharndt]

“ Whilst I was gone, this happened.” What happened?

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

Did you not see all the bubbling gushing water?

[@klharndt]

@@NarrowboatJourneys Yes, but what caused it?

[@NarrowboatJourneys]

It was me that caused it - setting up the locks.