We reached the locks and a man approached and asked me if I had done these locks before. I said we had but three years ago. He advised that we should wait in the lock, while he got the one ahead ready for us. It was a generous offer from him as he wasn't travelling himself, but just carried his windlass with him in the off chance of being able to help others. He knew many boats got stuck in the pound ahead and was saving us the nuisance or indignity. He helped me with the lock, as Shane waited outside it. He had mentioned that he was walking a dog but I couldn't see one. When the lock was ready for Shane I saw a dog slowly coming along the path and asked if that was his dog. He said people often asked that, but it wasn't so much that way round and more that he was her human!