Retirement with No Problem

Last couple of days – Dundas Wharf to Caen Hill Bottom (of main flight), K&A Canal, 12.5 miles 15 locks

WOW that’s a lot for us..

But really enjoyable.. it’s better now the weather is dryer.. no more having to wash Lucy’s legs down and clearing mud from my boots.  We are in no hurry though, and locking through with NB Moore2Life is easy.. we all know what each other is doing, and using just the one gate to enter and exit both boats, both Chas and I are getting really proficient at entering locks and moving over for the other boat to come aside.

It means that on these locks where there is only a short distance between them, Vic can go on to the next one while Annie can effortlessly use just the one gate to let us both in and out, saving her keep on walking round and round the locks.  Skippers help by dropping paddles on the top gates before leaving as we climb up the locks.

Today Vic and I exchanged roles.. I fancied some time on the towpath walking ahead to set the next lock, while Annie locked the boats through.  It is a wonderful pastime, never worrying about hire boats who want to empty or fill locks ahead of you trying to ‘judge’ whether they can just about ‘pinch’ the lock before we start frowning.. but hey they are on holiday, and want to see and do as much as possible.. I am happy to wait.. I have all the time in the world.

It gives me time to count the number of eggs in the nests along the fringes for example .. 6 moorhen eggs in one nest.. that made me sigh.  Only 2 will survive that, max me thinks.  I have only ever seen 2 moorhen chicks.. normally it is one.  There are too many mink.. say no more..

I note there have been some comments of late.. I will comment further on those this weekend.. but at the bottom of this flight I find my internet connection is difficult, posting this blog is a nightmare, but I will keep on trying to post it, don’t think I can do much all else this evening.. probably be better up the top tomorrow…