Bartimaeus

We didn't set off until after we'd had lunch, by which time the light cloud that had kept things a little cooler this morning was starting to burn away.  We'd gone hardly any distance when I noticed the rubbish disposal facilities at the end of the Ellesmere Arm - on the opposite side from where we'd walked in to town.  We were very much in need of emptying our recycling bin, and filled up with water while we were there.

The internet signal was much stronger here than the other side of the bridge where we had been moored.  As we headed out of town I noted a number of mooring spots with open skies and (presumably) better connectivity - we might use one of those on our return.  One spot was opposite a field of highland cows, including a number of calves.

Having noticed that there were no lambs with the sheep a few days ago, we've now seen plenty, some not even looking terribly young.  A canal side field today had some young lambs whose mothers seemed pretty relaxed about passing boats and boaters.

The bridges on this canal seem to be built at strange angles.  Both of us have been caught out and grazed the sides of the boat.  It is amazing that the huge numbers of novice drivers of hire boats aren't wedged in clumps at each one.

Today seemed to be a day for hire boats going the opposite way from us.  We are usually inclined to give way at bridges and other obstructions, this is definitely a good idea here.  It is likely that the driver coming the other way is going faster than us and may be new to boating.  They also have a current pushing them along and no bow thruster.

One boat gave way to us - through the bridge we could see they had an enormous teddy bear occupying most of the front cockpit: a bear in front.  The two blokes at the other end of the boat were grateful that they hadn't had to spend too long resting against the inquisitive cattle at the side of the canal. 

A strange shaped bridge caught my attention.  From a distance it appeared to be a brick arch bridge, but there was something strange underneath.  Between the parapet walls, a wooden deck was supported by rafters resting on the bricks on either side.  I wonder if this is some nod to "preserving" the original bridge.

We moored up for the day once we found a suitable length of towpath with open sky.  We saw a small number of swallows swooping around and dipping in the canal.

After dinner we went for a stroll along the towpath before sunset.  It wasn't far to the locks where I noticed another bridge.  This one is much more elegant, allowing folk to cross the significant by-wash channel.

On our way, we'd noticed a hot air balloon in the distance.  During our walk back we heard the repeated roar of the burner as they tried to maintain height.  The balloon drifted across the canal a little ahead of us before drifting gently to the ground close to a nearby farm.

By the time we got back to the boat, the sun was just setting.  Before I drew the curtains I noticed that the swallows' place had been taken by bats flitting about above the water hunting for insects.