Other than the gate crossing, the locks are fairly easy to work. There was quite s bit of variety as we went up. At one lock, I had a chat with a another woman about the glamorous pumpkin in her boat ( a painted face, more femme fatale than jagged toothed grimace) and foraging for fungi, then at others a wagtail, or butterfly would be my company. At one, a stick jammed in the gate, preventing me free from closing it; at another a canal and river trust worker, finishing his break, helped with me the gates. At some sunshine, at another rain, at another both, plus a rainbow.