Day 16: 4 August - Atherstone

Today we moved up two locks to be nearer town, to make picking up our two bags of laundry easier.  One of the 'pounds', the sections of canal between locks, proved to be short of water, as indeed this whole section is turning out to be in places.  The result was a mini drama when a boat coming down and waiting for us to exit one lock went aground and was stuck. The solo steerer opened the lock gates above him to flush more water down to refloat, so he was able to pass - but we'd pulled into the side and it was only with a great deal of heaving we got off 'our' mudbank.  Unfortunately - or fortunately - in the heat of the moment, no photos were taken!

View from inside the lock of the bottom lock gates before closing

Heron

Little wildflower meadow by one of the locks including knapweed, hawkbit (we think)

...and a large bumblebee 

Ascending lock 6 at Atherstone

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