Fishing with magnets

Blast, a boat came past at 8am. We were almost ready to leave, tiller went on by 7.50am, Ian then went to put coal on the fire and I was getting ready to brave the cold. (Hat, scarf, gloves etc) we wanted to make Atherstone top lock by about 11am. Unfortunately, that boater was on a go slow, we were lucky to do 2.5mph (Ian has an app on his phone to show our speed) so it seemed to take an age. If only he had looked behind he may have allowed us past.

Would you look at this, why use a magnet to fish things out of the canal and then dump it on the side without removing it as it's obvious what will happen. Straight back in by unscrupulous youths!

 
 So this slow boater, instead of following him down the flight, we stopped to shop at Aldi in Atherstone and then pushed across to the facilities for water. Gosh, this tap was slow! In fact, we decided to have lunch while waiting, not something we would normally do. By the time we started down the flight, it was nearly 1pm.

 I wanted to do all the locks on this flight, Ian was having a problem with his knees so his best bet was to steer the boat. Second lock down and winding the ground paddle and then.... whoa....head spinning and I go all dizzy again. Had to pass the windlass back to Ian...sorry.


 

His poor knees. Unfortunately Ian had to kneel trying to clear the prop after the engine nearly stalled. Turned out to be a build up of leaves again.

 Even a hobbling Ian didn't stop us from completing the 11 locks in two hours and very glad to be at the bottom before it got dark. We did pass that slow boater but only after he had moored between lock7 & 8 and had hoped the rest of the flight would be in our favour. But, t'was not to be.

 And seen on route.