We filled with water and then I walked on ahead to press the buttons to operate the lock. It’s been a while since I last did this job and I can recommend not pressing both Open and Close Gates buttons at the same time! It doesn’t you get you very far. Once I had got back in the swing of things it was easy and on we went back onto the river.
Looking back at Cranfleet Lock
When we reached Beeston Lock it was nearing 1pm, rain was forecast and it looked like it would be on time. With coats on and a short warning downpour we persevered as others were pulling up to avoid the wetness.
This route is starting to become very familiar, although you don’t always get the aroma from the tobacco factory, today it was strong. The visitors moorings at Castle Marina were almost empty so we tried to choose a position that would give us better Tv signal (GBBO final tomorrow!), we have BBC but nothing else.
The hedges near Boots resemble the Beverly Bypass.
Then rain set in good and proper. You could see the rain progressing down the canal and past Lillian, followed by a more intense wave of rain. A bit of thunder accompanied the down pours. With nothing on at the cinemas that we fancied seeing we stayed dry inside until a short patch of blue sky appeared and we headed to do a shop at Sainsburys.
The lady on our check out was getting quite exasperated as the scales on her till weren’t working. We didn’t mind as it meant anything that needed to be weighed was free! “With the compliments of Sainsburys”. We’d got a lot of veg for me to make autumn soup too. Just a shame they got them back working for the bananas and onions!
3 locks, 9.19 miles, 1 White Egret, 1 Kingfisher, 14th till free fruit and veg.
NB Lillyanne 