Bartimaeus

The locks and bridges along the Stratford are very narrow. It is often hard to see whether they fit in. I am not sure if it is a credit to Shane learning to curb cringing or giving advice, or a credit to me for having improved my driving enough that he is happy to let me drive through them. Still most people must manage as they are still standing though there is evidence that there is the odd bump. There is no room for distraction by dogs, walkers or cyclists on approach to these bridges.

 Because of their length, aqueducts look very narrow, but are usually no different from the locks, or perhaps wider.

I had found this one easier to walk across, than some of the other aqueducts we did earlier this year because of the walking path being lower and the edge of the waterway is at waist level not below you. When we entered the aqueduct someone was walking on it and casually leaning his elbow on the trough as we approached. 

 Also it wasn't as high or as long as the other two, but a great view all the same. Shane seemed relaxed, whether walking or driving. He doesn't mind open space or heights. He is less keen on confined space, but tunnels don't spook him either.

In the morning, we had a few locks still to cover and at first I was working them. I was glad as a fresh side wind was testing Shane's ability to steer into the tight space of the Stratford locks. Despite it, I was soon hot and tying my long sleeved tops round my waist. They were grouped close together so I went running ahead to set the next one and then back to open gates. At the first one Shane had got out and opened the gate as it was ready before I had run back. I thought it might have been quicker if he had stayed on the boat as  he then had to go back to drive up to the lock in stead of driving while I opened it. Things always seem like they are taking a long time while you are waiting for someone else. This applied to both of us. He suggested that when going ahead I only open one paddle so I was back faster.

This worked fine until I saw a boat ahead with CRT workers or volunteers so I said I wouldn't work the next one as there was a boat coming the other way. As we got nearer it didn't seem to be making much headway. Shane decided just to wait outside the lock. A man came over and explained that there was a problem with the lock ahead and the gate was not closing so we would have to wait.

We tied up Bartimaeus and went to watch what was going on. I had seen from a distance much plunging about with a barge pole. A very long aluminium pole with an iron scoop with holes in it was brought along and was better able to grab and lift obstructions than the bargepole. It was tiring work and there were several staff members discussing, trying and consulting. One stone was removed and we tried again to close the gate but with no improvement.

They were considering draining the pound and had begun lowering the water. A boatman has gone to fetch a magnet on a rope in case what was blocking the closure was metal, when success was achieved. Another stone had been removed and this time the gate closed.

The next test was to see if the boat passed through and the gate continued to work. The rope and magnet hadn't been deployed but had been left on the gate arm. We had to hand it back to the boater while he was in the lock. The staff were feeling like celebrating and one said "I think this calls for a cup of tea!" Shane was happy to have been able to be around for the final success. I had missed the moment nipping away for a biscuit and my camera.

We had a smooth onward progression to Stratford upon Avon with Shane now working the locks and me driving. As we approached the town a group of lads leant in to the lock and one asked if they could get on. I said he could but warned that the boat would go down into the lock and then it would be hard to get off again, though there was a ladder. I stepped to the side so he could step on without landing on me or slipping off the edge. At first he may have thought I was moving away because I  was trying to avoid them. But I heard one say "She's letting you on, go on!" and he jumped on and sat down. There was much encouraging and cajoling by the first boarder, to get his mates to join him. One tried to step in but saw it was already a bit low, but stepped on the seat and the third one eventually joined via the ladder and the roof.

Many people are wary of youths and they get a fair amount of bad press. I have spent most of my working life with teens and appreciate lively enthusiasm. Forty years ago when I was being interviewed for a volunteering placement I was asked what I wanted and said I didn't really mind, but didn't think I would be any good at working with unruly teenagers. I don't know whether the interviewer didn't  hear me, just noted 'unruly teenagers' down or thought volunteers ought to be challenged and stretched as an integral part of the experience. I will never know but I was placed in a further education college in the department that worked with students who had missed a lot of education, some had been expelled from school, and some had significant social issues. They were getting lessons in basic literacy and numeracy and practical subjects such as home economics. I found it interesting and some of the most unpredictable of them had some surprising skills, such as being a dab hand with a sewing machine. There were softies inside the tough exteriors. Persistence and testing are excellent ways of learning. The term ADHD hadn't been used yet. I have been happy working with teenagers ever since.

These lads that had joined me were excited to be on a boat. One waved to a lady in a house and said it was his nan! They were curious about the boat and how it worked. I was a bit concerned that they might hurt themselves and gave many warnings about the dangers of locks, dirty ropes and taking care getting on and off. I thought they would soon tire and having got on, would just as quickly want off but they asked to stay on asking how far we were going. We were all having an adventure. They decided to stay on until the basin, and as we entered under a bridge the horn pressing became even more frequent. "Just letting people know we're coming!" We don't normally herald our entrance but there was no curbing his enthusiasm with the horn, now he had found it. Shane turned the boat to reverse on to the jetty. I went down the front to let him know what space there was, to hear the horn still being pressed. Soon I saw they were walking down the gunwale or over the roof and joining me at the front. That stopped the horn blasting. Once we reached the jetty they hurried back to the rear and leapt off swiftly, and disappeared before we had tied up.

I don't know if they got to a covered space before the rain came, but we felt everything had worked out well with the weather and potential hold ups and hazards. Here we were safely in Stratford Upon Avon looking straight out at Shakespeare, under a rainbow. What's not to love!

In dramatic mood, Shane suggested a nearby theatre. I didn't expect him to enjoy "a coming of age period drama about four sisters in 1890s America" but he likes theatre, so following the loves and enthusiasms of outspoken passionate teenagers was the evening entertainment for us.