Busy Bees

Here's an arty crafty picture from last night.

We actually woke up quite early today and it was such a lovely day that we managed breakfast outside for the first time this year. 

After Brigid's morning prayer on YouTube we then cleaned the catch cover which had got dirty from all the work on the water tank.

Blimey, the captain then goes mad and washes all the windows on the towpath side.

While all this was going on Jules Fuels went past, a floating diesel/gas/coal barge. This is the same barge that we had to wait for at the lock yesterday. Still, we passed them later in the day when they stopped to top up a couple of canal boats at the side of the cut.

Here is the weir runoff at the side of the canal. No need of it today.

And then, a few yards further along, an inflow pipe from a nearby river for when the canal is low on water.

And, at the bottom lock, a pump house used to lift water further up the flight to replace water let down from higher up.

We were very fortunate to be able to share the locks with another hire boat which had 3 or 4 crew on board.

Stopped just below the top locks and went to the Navigation Inn for lunch.

, 

They were very busy with waiting times on drinks for 20 minutes and meals for 1 hour. We were lucky to get the last fish dish for the day.

Following that, a short stroll up to the top lock.

A look at the disused parallel lock and then back to the boat for a nice cup of tea. Bliss.