My Pipe Dream

After a few minutes the gates opened and the three barges with their pusher unit left the lock and set off following the channel downriver. As I watched I realised the leading barge was turning right and was soon heading straight for us. How could the batelier fail to see Pipe Dream lit up like a Christmas tree? I ripped the plastic bag off the searchlight and pointed the beam towards the rear of the convoy in an attempt to pick out the pusher unit but by now it was hidden behind the bulk of the barges and the light had no effect.

The triangle of lights on the front of the leading barge was pointing straight at us and the speed of the convoy was increasing. I knew it would only be seconds before it hit us and it would be the end of Pipe Dream and the great adventure. I grabbed the two lifejackets off their hooks in the wheelhouse and dashed through the galley, which is alongside the cockpit, and into the aft cabin where Chris was in bed asleep “Quick, out of bed Now” I yelled at her “Get on deck and put your lifejacket on” as I pushed her through the galley into the wheelhouse and up the steps into the cockpit, her in such a daze that she was only semi-conscious and didn’t know what was happening. I glanced towards the convoy, which was now only yards away, and knew I could not get the anchor up before the leading barge hit us……………