Bartimaeus

We were relieved to get through the bottom lock at Radford. It made the rest of the plan more achievable. There were still timings to meet though so we pressed on. There were lots more locks ahead but we had a plain sailing section for just now.

Bryn noticed a boat with a Scottish flag moored up. Then we saw it had another flag and on closer inspection it was from New Zealand. Just as I was taking a photograph and Bryn was making a pun about the unusual boat name saying "the other way", a woman popped her head out and said it was Maori. It means the water way or path. It was a very smart boat.

As we approached the next pair of locks, Shane had stepped off to get one ready. There were two boats outside the lock that we had seen before, and a moored boat. They were lunching while taking in water and waiting to get water. I was chatting to them when the water started gushing from the lock. I said it might throw me about and I should have stayed against the side after dropping Shane and Bryn off. A crew member said "I think that's just about to happen now". I pulled in out of the way. I wondered if one of their crew members watching was concerned I would hit them, but I didn't and I didn't get thrown about either. I went just where I wanted to be. A man said another boat was ten minutes ahead and we might catch them.

Shane wanted to grab a sandwich before the start of the Hatton locks. We have been here before and Shane reminded me we turned right at the junction at the bridge, before disappearing to make his lunch. He had spoken to another couple on a hire boat and they said they would wait for us. I approached the motorway bridge under which we had had the new solar panels fitted, and a boat was there but the gates weren't open yet. Shane emerged to drive while I headed to the lock, Bryn following. We started through and a lock keeper came and said did we think we would be through in one and a half hours. I just said we'd go as far as we could. He said we'd meet other boats coming and there were other lock keepers on. He was pleased to find we had buddied up as he thought only one boat was coming up. After a few, I took a chance to eat a sandwich when we met others and there were plenty locking.

I took over driving. Our partner boat was very adept at getting into the lock smoothly but as usual it was problematic keeping the boat in place for Bartimaeus to come alongside. I had seen the odd bump as Shane drove and the same was happening to me. She tried throwing a rope up for her husband to hold it in but that didn't work the first time. She tried again at the next lock and Bryn held it in. When her husband threw the rope back it landed in the middle and partly in the water. It was too dangerous with the lock being operated for her to go down the side of roof to grab it. It is also risky to have a loose rope in the water. I went down the middle as there is space between the gunwales to walk and not get squashed. I was able to grab her rope from the middle and pass it to her.  Apart from bumping a bit on the way in, we were getting along well.

Bryn took a chance to eat next, then was back in the swing of things. A lock keeper let us know that we were not going to get through the last of the locks as we were not there in time so a lock later we moored up. 
We went for a walk up the locks. I had ice cream. Bryn and Shane both went for "Debbie's famous scones with jam and cream". The lady in the cafe gave me plastic pots with lids with the jam and cream in, saying they were in those because of the wasps. She wasn't kidding. In a short time they had found us and Bryn was almost put off eating at all by one landing on his milkshake.  I wondered if they independently find sweet things or begin individually then if they find something, like bees, tell their mates the good stuff is over there. We escaped unstung.

It was very hot and we were moored on the sunny side, so when we went back to the boat Shane took a camp chair across the lock gate and sat in the shade of the hedge, on the other side. I didn't fancy carrying the large chair, while crossing a lock gate but Shane promised to deal with those. I had enough carrying a phone, book and knitting bag. Shane was true to his word and brought my chair. I had quick chats with our buddy boat driver who was reading in the sun on the bow of their hired boat.

The next day we were ready promptly and the lock keeper came to tell us we could set off and they would have the locked locks ready by the time we got there. Shane got the lock ready, Bryn cast off the front and joined him. I cast off then realised there was still a fender down at the front. A passing man reached but said it was too far away. I hurried down the inside and took it off. There isn't much spare room and some sloshing so I didn't want the fender getting twisted or snapped. It might be protective in a lock, but should be hung differently if used that way. Having got in ahead of our partners, it was easier for me to get out of her way. 

The ponds ahead came thick and fast and we agreed to try driving in simultaneously. I had seen she was perfectly good at getting in neatly. It was holding it still till the other person drove in that was the issue. We found it worked very well, and was much less stressful! It was a great sense of achievement to get quickly and smoothly through the locks. 

With plenty time to spare for revisiting the cafe. I have never eaten a plum tart so fast, to beat the wasps, that found it as I reached the last two mouthfuls. Shane and Bryn had gone for savoury items.

Shane drove on towards the Stratford canal and where we can leave it for a while. There was an interesting old workshop and a boat selling fenders. It is nice to see the old crafts are still there.