Bartimaeus

It was a little over half a mile to the top of the Wilmcote Locks, which we did on diesel to get the batteries charged.  The locks start with three groups of three.  Clare opted to leave me to drive to start with.

All of the locks seemed to be set against us, but they are close enough together that going ahead to prepare the next one at some point in the sequence is usually worth the walk. I was glad of my fleece whenever I was not in direct sun, but with the extra effort Clare soon had hers tied around her waist.

We saw the distinctive blue clothes and red life-jacket of a Canal and River Trust (CRT) person at one of the locks behind us and guessed we might be going to get some help.  A lock or two further on it seemed we were mistaken, but Clare reported seeing some activity ahead of us and a boat coming up the flight towards us.

We stopped when we reached a lock that was set against us with its tail gate open ready for the boat coming the other way, but we could see that something else was happening.  It turned out that one of the gates wasn't closing properly and CRT were there in force to try to resolve it.

Shortly after we arrived, another CRT person arrived wielding the special tool.  He ran the end along the line of the cill under the muddy water hoping to lift or dislodge the obstruction.  It took him quite a while, but eventually he pulled out a lump of stone - to cheers from those standing around.  When the gate was swung again however, it still wouldn't close fully.

The next part of the plan was to drain the pound below the lock so that the floor of the lock could be examined directly.  To do that, the two boats already in the pound would first have to go back (and backwards) through the lock below.  While they were doing that, the tool was deployed again and a second piece of rock retrieved - now the gate closed as it should.  There was a louder cheer!

The first of the boats was brought up through the errant lock, and then we were invited to proceed down.  After a delay of an hour or so we were on our way again in the now warm sunshine, with Clare driving this time.

As we came out of the third of the three groups of three locks I saw a black cloud starting to hide the sun and suggested we stop for lunch.  Just as we got inside, the rain started, and was quite heavy while we were eating.

By the time we'd finished eating it was sunny again.  It was over half a mile to the next lock and we stopped to fill the water tank before we got there.  After that lock there was a sign saying that the towpath was closed.  The fencing to enforce the point made it slightly awkward for Clare to pick me up after the lock, but it was a good job she did.  A short distance along, the towpath had completely collapsed in to the canal.

We soon reached reached the last group of three locks that drop down to the Stratford Canal Basin.  As I was starting to wind the paddle a group of three lads had come up to Clare and asked if they could get on the boat.  They seemed boisterous but not threatening, but I came up to the back end to check that Clare felt safe.  She seemed mostly concerned that the lads didn't fall in as Bartimaeus descended in the lock.

I felt secure enough to go ahead to set the next lock, and came back to find them all waiting for a ride to the next lock.  They stayed aboard through two more locks and in to the basin - about half a mile in total.  Apart from some excessive use of the horn they were no problem, and clearly really enjoyed the experience.

In the basin we found a mooring on a jetty right next to the statue of Shakespeare.  Not long after we'd moored up, another sharp shower came through, leaving a double rainbow behind.

When the rain had passed, I went to look at the lock down to the river.  On my way back I saw signs for the Attic Theatre in the building next to the canal basin.  We had just enough time for dinner before the evening performance, so Clare popped out and got us tickets for Little Women.