Leaving our mooring at Compton
View from an emptied lock, ready to exit
Catnap purring along
This canal has, instead of long weirs by the locks, these circular ones
Unusual pillastered rail over Awbridge lock, also shows the bottom lock gates and (the other side of the wall) the cobbled path which boatmen would use
Passing 'Saul' a beautifully painted and designed new boat, based on an old 'tug'
'Saul' from the bow
Dusk at our nighttime mooring below Awbridge lock
Sunday 14 July and an early start to continue our journey and ready to tackle the Bratch, which is a flight of three locks with a particular sequence of filling and emptying. There's a resident lock keeper, to ensure correct procedures are followed.
Approaching the Bratch
Detailed (and more or less intelligible!) instructions. Thank goodness there's a lock keeper.
As with all flights, there's an audience
Catnap in lock number one, being inspected by audience
Lock keeper keeping a careful eye on proceedings. The red-topped paddles have a mystic significance - they have to be opened in order
Jan exiting, under watchful eyes
Finally, we leave the Bratch behind us
... to find Botterham locks, with fine cast ironwork bridges
The forest is taking over
Try saying this quickly
Denis working paddles at Botterham
Imposing bottom gates, taken looking back from below the bridge
Leaving a lock, Denis waiting to close gates
Lining up for a narrow lock entrance
Evening approaches and we moor south of Ashwood marina. We've seen many herons, but this one stayed still long enough to be photographed.
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