Bartimaeus

Today I stepped out to listen to birds before breakfast. There were several tweeting away and Merlin identied great tit, blue tit, jackdaw, chaffinch and magpie in a minute. It was dry and to my surprise the sky was blue. This was a nice mooring but we wouldn’t be hanging around long. It was a nice start to the day. It wasn’t windy or as cold as it had been yesterday.

We had breakfast. Bryn was up promptly so we were all ready together. The first lock of the day was visible so Bryn and I cast off the front and I dropped off the chain to Shane. Then Bryn and I went up to the first lock and prepared it. Already the blue sky had gone, but someone was intent on spreading a little sunshine. There was a little crocheted flower tied to the lock arm I was working. I mentioned it to Bryn and he told me that some of the locks yesterday had had those too. Of course I had not seen them as I was driving. Someone has been scattering their blooms on the locks here. I saw another yellow one later.

We saw another man come up so we left the gates open for him. He is working through alone and had found it hard going and had brought an extendible boat hook to help with the gates. He warned us that one of the pounds was very low, between Stone lock and Iron lock. I thought them odd names but when we got to the next one I saw it was indeed named Stone Lock. It had a surprise pink flower as well – not yarn bombing this time, but a late flowering rose.

We could see the the pound ahead was well down so Shane asked us to open the left hand gate so he was more central in the canal and we walked ahead so he didn’t have to come to the side and collect us. It was only quarter of a mile so we were happy to do so, but the lone boater would had to struggle with that as he had to come to the side to work the lock. No wonder he was feeling exhausted by it. Even trying to drive out was a struggle as lowering the lock water level to match the low pound meant the boat was right at the bottom of the lock. Bryn had to open a paddle to let more water through so the boat could get going… whatever floats our boat.

 Though he was sticking to the middle Shane grounded a bit now and then and approached slowly. We filled the next lock gradually too, which was taking some water away but at least the water flowed the right way, Bryn observed. This was iron lock and it really was made of iron. Unfortunately it was warped like the house at the last lock and there were warnings to take great care. Not many locks are made of iron and I can see why.

We took care as instructed and all went smoothly. As Shane was driving out a couple passed and the man engaged me in conversation. He had noticed the low water earlier in the day and wondered if a boat could get through, so was interested to see we had made it.

There was a longer gap before the last lock of the day so Shane was waiting for us to board. I brought coffee and tea out for the chaps but managed to catch my fleece on the door snib and spill coffee on the deck. It is a self draining deck so Shane recommended pouring more water over it, two cups of water and a some mopping later. I didn’t drain fast but did go eventually.

Fluid dynamics were not at their best today! Bryn promised to try not to spill his tea. The smile was back on my face seeing this happy boat though. It was like a children’s cartoon. It reminded Bryn of a story book we had The Story of Ping, about a duck that lives in a boat, a wise eyed boat on the Yangtze River. That was a very different boat with very different eyes.

We couldn’t see a name on that boat, but we passed another boat that the owner has not left nameless, quite, but was named Anonymity. 

We saw another boat ahead as we approached the next lock and Shane hoped we might share the lock but they pulled in before the lock bollards and seemed to be tying up. We asked if they were coming through but they said they were stopping for bacon butties, but then she said she needed a refresher course and could she watch us work the lock to remind her of how to do it. We were very happy to oblige. I explained winding use of ratchets and staying forward of the cill. Bryn explained water levels at locks and the woman identified the landmark Shane had pointed to as we approached as Beeston Castle so we were all educated. One gate was exceptionally hard to shift so we were glad of their help too. 

That was our last lock of the year and it will be their first lock of their year. We just had to get to the marina. All went well and we found they had a fine cafe too. We are tied with stout ropes, plugged in and  pumped out. The fridge is emptied in the last meal and tomorrow we all go north together, and the geese flying over the marina looked like they were heading the same way strangely. These ones I saw earlier are going south.