The V L rope trick and there are disadvantages of being over 70

Oh dear...Somehow we have got our timings wrong. Playing on my mind in the wee hours of the morning was the thought that we need to be in Milton Keynes for the 11th of July. We have yet to arrive at the junction of the Ashby canal and then travel along it to Shakerstone to meet with family and friends. No locks on the Ashby but plenty of lock flights to do after we leave the Ashby for Campbell Park so we needed to up our game. Cruising for a couple of hours on a daily basis won't get us there in time which will probably mean having to say goodbye to Jim and Jenn in the process. They like to start early and stop early doing no more than 2/3 hours cruising per day. We need to achieve at least 5/6.

Today then we filled the water tanks and left Alrewas by 8 am. Five locks to do before turning left onto the Coventry canal. Bagnall lock has always been a bit of a pig. Those bottom gates just don't want to stay shut and Ian had to sprint to crack the top paddle and then sprint back to close the gate. Normally I sit back on the gate to keep it closed but we have found a bit of a problem with the new bike rack. The bars stick out over the stern button so every time I get to far back and touch the gate it is the bike that suffers. Anyway, Ian needs the exercise 😏 so a bit of running to and fro won't do him any harm.

At Common lock, we noticed that Fradley Marina was starting to take shape but is it just me or does it seem to be taking forever? Still, pontoons have started to go in and there is a lot more digging taking place.

Then approaching Hunts lock I did a double-take. Was that a volunteer Lockie helping at the locks?

Both of us were NOT expecting that! I asked him when he had started volunteering again and he replied, "44 minutes ago"!  Turns out he started today but yesterday was the official first day of the volunteers to start back. Seems they are rather short on manpower at the moment due to the fact that most of the volunteers on this flight are over 70 and have to stay away for health reasons. I did admire his trick of tying a rope to the bottom gates to help close the far gate, a real time saver and saves him walking around the lock. I seem to recall this was being done the last time we came through Fradley so maybe it's the same volunteer.

Junction lock had another volunteer.

Ascending Junction lock we did the left turn onto the Coventry canal. I don't think I have ever seen the swingbridge approach looking so unkept.

And sad to see this casualty of neglect. Appeared to be an ex C&RT workboat.

 Look at this photo. Even the towpath has been left to grow wild. The sooner things get back to normal the better! And some dredging and weed pulling is also necessary along parts of this canal.

Getting a bit narrow and we struggled to make headway because the bottom was too near to the top!

 After doing more hours today we nearly made it to Hopwas. We were all getting very hot and decided enough was enough. Tomorrow will be a longish day for us and in the heat that is coming, will probably be most unpleasant.

Moorings for tonight.

This made me laugh. A galloping and frolicking Cow.

 And wildlife today,