Day 41 Tuesday May 20

 Decided to head off early this morning to get back to the lock so there wouldn’t be many boats there at the same time. The morning was just beautiful, so sunny and calm!

Got to the lock and Gary and I were sorting the getting of water into the lock to enable Graeme and Bob to drive the barges in. This old fellow comes up and says that the locks are padlocked and won’t be opened til 10am. This was about 730am! We all looked at each other and then noticed the padlocks on the gate, preventing us from getting through. So we decided to make a cuppa and read our books and wait for the Canal Trust fellow to turn up and open the padlock. Apparently someone who went through the lock didn’t close it properly and heaps of water flowed out into the river! There is such a drought here at present that canal levels are very low. 

The Canal Trust fellow - Rav - turns up about 815am. It turns out he had heard about 2 boatloads of Aussies that may need some help so he came looking for us! Apparently the young guys we had met the day before had mentioned to him about us and he should keep an eye out for us! He was such a help, got us through the lock with no issue at all. 

Lovely day cruising along, stopping every now and then to open the swing bridges or to make a cuppa, or have lunch or stop for an ice cream!  Life is hard! No wifi on boat so still having problems getting photos up! 

The two skippers

Just came through that swing bridge

Cruising along the waterways.

Under bridges

Lunch at the Bay Horse Pub

Beautiful waterways

Kath inside the cabin



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