Bartimaeus

Having stayed still for two days we were glad of a good forecast. We needed to get a few miles done to be in position for picking up Bryn but there was stormy weather forecast for the end of the week so had to get the bulk of it done in one day. As we set off, another boater was getting his boat ready. Even though we were sort of in a hurry, Shane told the man we were generally slow moving and we would likely let him past us should he catch up. The man was not setting off immediately but it was useful to speak to him as waving people forward when they can't hear you can be hard. People don't usually like to hassle you by coming too close. There are no overtaking lanes and pushing past is deemed rude without invitation or communication. People can ask to leave first in a double lock, but there were none of those today.

We reached the tunnel without seeing him behind us. This end looks a little different and of course having been in once we were more confident that we fitted and wouldn't get stuck half way along.

When about half way along, we saw the other boat approach and enter the tunnel. 

They were definitely going faster than us but we had time to get out. Just outside the tunnel is a wide area and lots of room to pass. Shane went clearly to the side so when they emerged they waved and went merrily on.

We swapped over driving for a bit so I was driving again at the aqueduct and was too busy chatting to some walkers to be worrying about the right hand turn on the other side. It all worked out though I'd have lined up differently if I had been thinking about it.

It was a beautiful day and though we had coats on we were lighter clad than before. A giant bee seemed to think it was warm enough to be out. Still I had a scarf on and gloves while knitting, and had a hat at the ready. It is autumn after all.  

Near a garden we saw some red round things on the water. I remembered some rosy apples on a tree and wondered if they had fallen down. I wouldn't want to get my teeth stuck into those bobbing in the canal. As we got closer I saw they were not the right shape for apples. They were chrysanthemum heads. A gardener was at work and I am guessing he was dead heading as the ones in the garden were stunning though the ones in The water were not very withered. I was driving so Shane took pictures on each side of the boat as I drove through.

Since it was autumn Shane was finding it a bit slow at times and suspected leaves or something else was clogging the propeller. He went down the weed hatch but found nothing. He went again later and there were a few stems and leaves. May be they fell off when he stopped or maybe it was just shallow ... possibly both.

We were approaching the last bridge of the Leek branch. I realised only when I saw the number 1 on the bridge.

This was another point with a turn after the bridge approaching the junction. The tow path goes off over the junction. I wonder why I never noticed it in the other direction - had my back to it and too busy doing a U turn.

The stop lock plans were all locked up.  It was slightly odd seeing the lock from this angle. We weren't going that way this time though. Shane was going left.

We did have some locks to do but not yet.

As the seats dried I felt I could take some knitting out. I was still a little wary of catching velcro of my jacket on the wool but checked every bit was covered. I chose the smaller project with only one ball so it was more manageable. I was still looking up to see what was going on. The Coddiwompler reminded me of the  boater whose online musings (he calls it ”a letter home") I read quite often. He calls himself a coddiwompler and often is locked in debate with himself or his family about whether to stay put or move on and if moving, where should they go. Sometimes we are very vague about our moving but we rarely stay still for long and often have a medium term plan if not a short term one.

We had a definite plan for today and more locked in target than usual. Also the days following were roughly mapped out, with some wriggle room. Today we needed to get the bulk of the locks done and some decent distance or we would be travelling in the wet. It didn't mean we couldn't enjoy some of the slow life.

Shane wanted to nip to a shop and hopped off and walked forward telling me that he would check my pace on Where is Bartimaeus  and that his route to the shop diverged at a distinctive bridge with a sign in the middle of the canal. I carried on. Our slightly increased speed meant I wondered if I was slow enough for the long term moored boats, especially as someone was standing watching. I needn't have worried, he greeted me saying I was going at a really nice gentle pace and people often told others off at this spot for going to fats. He must have read my mind.

After a bit, I saw a part ahead that looked like a junction. I felt sure Shane would have mentioned a junction and I was confident I should go left anyway if there was one. As I got nearer I remembered a sharp turn and a wharf off it with barriers across and this would be it, and when I reached the turn I could see Shane waiting by the bridge for me and this was the one he had mentioned, so that all worked out.

I went back to knitting for a bit and Shane drove then he gave me warning that a bunch of five or six locks were approaching and I would have to stop knitting to drive or lock. He had done these locks in the other direction so I chose to pick up the windlass and set off to do the top lock. We could swap over if they were too arduous or I got too hot. I told Shane he was to get the knitting inside promptly if it rained. I could see some other crafter had been here before me but their work was very soggy now and getting a little rusty.

The locks were close enough that I could open one and start one ahead if need be but they were mostly set in our favour but had leaked a little. One had leaked a lot. I found another artwork by one, that I hadn't noticed last time.

I wasn't happy about clambering over the gate arms when they were wet and slimy. They blocked the bridge for crossing and while the boat leaves the lock I want to drop the paddles on each side. I took to nipping round the gate as I opened it so I was on the bridge between the arms rather than at the lockside. I had seen that I could reach over the gate arm and wind both gate paddles down without clambering over the gate that way. It worked well on this set. I don't recall using this way of locking myself in between the arms before. Sometimes they are too heavy or the way round is unsafe or there is a ground paddle you can't reach. It gave me a different photo opportunity too, being on the bridge as the boat was exiting. I was locked on the bridge waiting for them to get out, before closing the gates.

One of the bridges had been stuck open and I know I did it before so we wondered if it was meant to be up. We applied the country code referring to gates, leave it as you find it.

At the next lift bridge, two young men were standing beside the bridge chatting. It is a very simple button operated one but with no fancy barriers and a small bridge. I checked they didn't need to cross. They we were really enjoying seeing it in action as they had never seen it operated before. 

Shane announced he wanted to do the Engine Lock, as I had done it last time and had operated all the other locks and bridges. Apart from the person leaving Leek, who passed us after the tunnel, we hadn't seen any other boats moving, despite it being the only good driving day of the week. Then as we came through a bridge, as sun was getting low, we saw a boat coming the other way. We hope we hadn't held him up as the driver said that they were trying to get to the Foxley pub for Bingo. We all agreed that was going to be tight to do before dark. He was in a much bigger hurry than us.

We got a great view of a kingfisher on the way into Stoke. We saw it catching a fish and fly through the trees. It came back before us several times. I think you'll just have to take my word for it that there is a kingfisher taking flight in this late afternoon picture. It is in too shady a spot and the wrong angle to show it's brilliance.

It was good to know we were in kingfisher territory as we were nearing somewhere we would be for a couple of days. Though I didn't hold out much hope of further sightings in the rainy days. They still have to eat though. We passed a bridge I remembered from before, bearing someone's name made famous for begging for more to eat.

I did the larger lift bridge, with barriers, and was glad that despite it being rush hour, the traffic seemed quite light as I was working it. We had reached Stoke moorings and it was around sunset so I suggested while I was already off we just moor here beside the solar farm built on post industrial land. It was a good open space, if not the most scenic, and neither the field nor Bartimaeus' roof panels were expecting an awful lot of sun.