Whoops!

It's quite amazing how different the canal looks going the other way. At times I turn round to see if I can recognise some features we passed on the way up. 

There are still plenty of hire boats around, most rushing back for Friday changeover. 

At one of the locks I managed to get the boat stuck on the weir race. I had been approaching the lock intending to put the nose of the boat against the lock gate, but the water was running so fast over the weir at the side of the lock that the back of the boat got dragged round and stuck against the edge. Well, we pushed and pulled, revved the engine but all to no avail. What now? The only thing to do was to try and reduce the pressure of water running over the weir. So, we opened all the lock paddles so that water was taken from the pound through the lock as well as over the weir. With this slight reduction in pressure we were able to get the boat moving backwards until I was able to stand on the bank at the back of the boat and give an almighty push to get it away from the side. Whew! Don't want to do that again, I can tell you! 

At one of the locks we saw a grey wagtail. You can tell it's a grey wagtail because it's yellow! Well, not all of it. I understand that the yellow wagtail has a yellow head and body. Anyway, back to the story, on the way up the canal we were told of a nest at one of the locks with eggs in it,  so, on the way back we looked out for it. And here it is. The nest is on one of the gates and we could see a chick - there could have been more - and the parent bird going back and forth catching small flies for them. 

I don't know how many times a day these gates get opened and closed but it's certainly a novel description for a 'mobile home'. 

A couple of working boats moored up at the edge of the canal. 

And, to close, another sunset picture for you.