Not a good place to meet...right at a junction

 Thursday 3rd Oct

I'm not sure if it was the coals or the damp air but the BBQ took forever to get going. Therefore by the time burgers and sausages were cooked, it was dark! But all turned out lovely in the end and worth the wait.

 Early morning sunrise and mist rising from the water, you just cant beat these autumnal canal mornings

The volunteer Lockie arrived early at Cholmondeston Lock

Only had the two locks to do today. Minshull Lock was empty and with it being a deep lock took an age to fill.

I think Tony and Lynda quite like doing single locks.

 We only went as far as bridge 16. Winded, moored up by bridge 14 and walked back to bridge 13. On the way to the winding hole, I had noticed a fast amount of water in the fields below and wanted to see if it had been caused by flooding. Hmmm...I think it had.

Barbridge junction was busy. Two boats had passed us having negotiated the turn. Tony' reached the junction and did the right thing by sounding the horn. Lynda was up the at the sharp end as lookout but it still wasn't enough to stop the near-collision between Merlin and another boat. From afar it looked as if it had been Tonys fault but we found out from the helmsman on the other boat that the wind had got him and it was more by luck than judgement that the boats didn't collide. In fact, the wind was that strong that the boat did a very graceful pirouette and ended up facing the opposite direction. 😂😉

Both boats in reverse

The wind had got the better of that boat

And....

He did the perfect turn....to face the wrong way!

Tomorrow and a 10-minute cruise will see Merlin back at the top lock of Bunbury flight. A fabulous week had with great company and one to do again in a couple of years time.

And seen on route,

And wildlife,