Ansty

I found the trains a bit disturbing last night and was awake early, but as the locks didn’t open until 10 there was no point in setting off early, although a couple of boats came by to be first in the queue.
Opening the back doors there was a large spider web from the tiller to the back deck and right in the middle was a Damselfly. It looked dead but when I broke the it moved so I was able to set it free. 

I then went to take the exhaust cover off and found this moth resting on it. He soon found it too warm to hang about.

Once the boats that had passed earlier started to lock down we pushed to use the offside lock, the bottom gates leak like a sieve and Diana was unable to open the top gate alone with both paddles up. While I was waiting I looked at the bywash weir and

after giving the marker a good scrub the level is not down that much, maybe 4”. Of course the back pumping is going flat out and probably  replacing the lock usage.

There was a Volockie at the top lock organising and assisting. She told the youngster working the lock to never let go of the windlass while its on the spindle. Very good advice, I immediately lost my grip on my windlass as I lowered the paddle and now have a black thumbnail and bruised . We met boats at all the rest of the locks and there were 4 waiting below the flight with more arriving.
Just before Newbold these cows and very young calf were having both a drink and a paddle, they obviously knew where the water got deeper.

There were also lots of boats away from their home moorings at Newbold its self, so I had a clear shot of this sign, in the past there have always been people and boats in the way.

We met a hire boat in Newbold Tunnel, for some reason he thought there would be room for us to pass if he carried on coming down the middle of the channel, there wasn’t and there was a loud bang.
The moorings at All Oaks were completely full and we carried on passed the cutting which is still closed to pedestrians.
As we approached Rose Narrowboats someone on foot crossing the bridge kindly opened it for us. Diana hopped off and closed it after we were through. Some are so impatient they can’t even wait for the bridge to close fully before crossing.

Luckily we fond a spot to moor at Ansty, the ring spacings are not the best but it will do for the night.

Today’s Journey12 miles with 3 locks in 5¼ hours