Bartimaeus

Recently we have had minor reminders of risks on the canal: the muntjac in the water yesterday; the broken bridge to pass under; numerous reports of closures around the system, due to drought, leaking or vandalism - draining an entire flight of locks.

Last night a group of ducks, usually so at home on the water were congregating on a floating log. Often they perch on logs or branches at the side, or sleep on the bank, but this was non static. They were alert and abandoned the log as I came past even though I was not close. Ducks don't usually avoid you so much on water.

Wildlife is at risk for several reasons, the butterfly count is about measuring the decline in population. While doing the butterfly count last night I passed a sign about a creature being helped in the nearby Coventry canal. The water vole is in decline. The metal edges put up to prevent erosion, make an impenetrable wall for the water vole, so they are now installing different edgings that are not only attractive, but help the voles get through. In addition the plant roots get through the coir edging and improve the cleanliness of the water. It's perhaps no surprise then that the best sighting I have had of a water vole, was near this area, scurrying along in and out of holes in the bank.

While we were on the Ashby, we had seen a boat that was taking extra precautions to care for their cat, a warning sign to walkers. I don't know whether that was to protect a nervous cat or if the cat was territorial, or to warn dog walkers about the cat. There was a mini ladder up the side to allow it to get on and off the roof with ease. I wonder if it was a clumsy, or reckless cat that had had a mishap in the past. We never saw the cat ourselves.

Today we wanted to set off before it got too hot. I had suddenly remembered that I needed travel insurance before a trip later this month, and realised it would be good for that to be sorted before the extra distraction of Bryn. It is no good taking it out after the journey has started. I felt glad to be fit, filling in the forms. I was in a quandary about mentioning a sore back almost two years ago that had occasioned a doctor's visit, as I didn't think it was a 'medical condition', just a short term discomfort following a fall. However at the final step before payment, there were big warnings that even if something was temporary and cleared up, it must be declared or the whole insurance was invalid. Of course I hope not to need it at all, but if anything goes wrong the medical insurance was the most important, so as Shane cast off, I went back to finish the job. I was relieved to find adding in a medical issue, (plus extra details now required, including BMI) made virtually no difference to the quote. Good they don't think I am a high risk either.

I got that out of the way, just in time for helping at the stop lock and getting rid of rubbish at the junction to go on the North Oxford canal. As I walked over the bridge to the refuse point, a couple watching the junction, saw me carrying the big bin and a bag of bottles and asked if there was a rubbish point. That was handy information for them. It isn't that visible, hiding behind the toilet block. I came back and Shane had turned at the junction, with the couple still watching from the bridge. I had noticed they had a windlass so they had a boat. Perhaps they wanted to suss out what happened here before tackling the junction themselves. Shane and I swapped over driving so he could operate the lock. As I was driving in I saw the couple had left the bridge and were now approaching the lock. "You are used to it" he said. As we left the lock, they boarded a small boat. I commented they had plenty of space to turn, "yes that's the good thing about it". Shane wondered if the little boat with tiny portholes might be very hot in this weather. Maybe that was why they were out on the bridge, getting fresh air.

As I drove along, a young man on the towpath called to me that there was something in the water ahead and he thought it was an animal. He was concerned about whether it might damage the boat - perhaps he had heard of cows or elk damaging vehicles when hit. I had thought he meant a live animal a first, but I could now see something very much not alive. I assured him a floating animal would not harm us but I would go round it anyway. It turned out to be a dead muntjac. Shane didn't think it was the one we had seen the night before. It would have had to get through the lock and junction to arrive here. There are obviously muntjac in the area that get in the water and then can't get out.

We reached the moorings Shane had aimed for at about lunchtime and I was at the front looking for spaces. A group of four people were walking along the towpath. There were overhanging brambles and they were ducking and weaving round them. The man at the back stepped to the side to avoid them where there was an uneven narrow strip of grass with regular holes from the particularly deep corrugated piling. Just as we passed, there was a splosh and he had fallen in. The three adults with him had difficulty pulling him out and the piling would not have been comfortable on him. We didn't want to run the propeller near him but also wanted to be on hand if there was anything we could do. The rudder has a step on it to help people climb up if you land in the water, for instance. After a few attempts we saw they had managed to get him out and he looked a lot less distressed out of the water. It was a relief to see he was uninjured as that edge looked hazardous and a broken bones had seemed quite likely with a misplaced foot.

I had wondered about offering a cup of tea or seat, but then realised they were on a nearby hire boat, so he had all the facilities he needed to hand. Shane decided the most helpful thing was to cut back the offending bushes and thorny stems so other people didn't veer off the narrow path. He set about it with a saw and remembered to wear protective gloves against the briars.

After the man had had a shower and change, the group were once more heading along the path, to the pub for lunch, while Shane was still cutting the bushes supporting the brambles and briars. Now he was in their way, but they were pleased to see it being cleared and didn't mind waiting a bit. The offcuts of all the brambles and sloe bushes were tucked under or in a hole in the hedge and the path was clear. Now we could relax.