Working the lock.

A dry day and warmer than previously.  The route today was taking us along the Trent and Mersey canal and through the majority of the Cheshire Locks, known to working boats as "Heartbreak Hill".  Having 3 "lockaholics" on board we moved quickly helping many other crews along the way.  Most crews are either a couple with the wife working the locks (why give her the hard work? One Lady told Clickychick steering in locks was too hard - so her husband said) or single handers.

At one lock there was an amazing thicket of Rhus typhina (Stags Horn Sumac) which was a blaze of autumn colour.  The trees and shrubs are colouring up nicely.  As we neared the Middlewich Junction we had the unusual sight of a Cormorant sitting on the canal side a few feet from a busy road and passing boats.  It decided to fly when we were a few feet away, unfortunately my camera bouncing against my body had changed the settings and the shots were rubbish.

The blip shows KKK & G having just opened the top gate of a lock and Solace with Clickychick standing in the well deck and "The Mate" helming/