Trouble at lock

At last we have set off from Stratford Basin and, instead of going down the Avon, we are returning the way we came. 

We had a look at the locks on the Avon and they are big and heavy, especially built for river traffic. Also, our return journey would have been against quite a strong river flow. So, back along the canals that we know. 

No sooner had we started than we had an unplanned halt. Something had become lodged behind one of the lock gates so that it wouldn't open. 

Along comes the cavalry and 3/4 of an hour later, said object had been moved far enough out of the way for boats to go through. The C&RT chap said they would drain the pound tomorrow morning and wade about the bottom of the lock to try and find the cause of the problem and remove it, if possible.

The captain looks quite relaxed about it all. 

I did offer to let her drive the boat but she preferred sitting down while the lock filled. We came through 16 locks today and many of them with volunteers helping. We got into a steady rhythm with the volunteer walking ahead to set the next lock, we would fill the lock and close the gate behind us. 

After 16 locks we decided to stop early at Wilmcote. Spent much of the afternoon snoozing and reading. 

Not much traffic on the canal today.