Power

Today we were moving from the non-tidal water of the Middle Level through Denver Sluice into tidal water, then back through Salters Lode (a lock) into another non-tidal stretch. All is carefully managed by the Middle Level Commissioners (great name, eh?) in order to prevent too many boats using the Middle Level so we had booked and were expected. But because the boat is too long for Salters Lode it had to go through the lock when the tide was at the same level as the canal, so we were held at Denver Sluice for other boats to go first. A lot of waiting. I was lucky that I was needed to drive when we got to evening - past rushes, reeds, sedges and wind turbines in the low glowing sun.

By the time we reached March at 8pm there were no moorings left but nothing daunts John. He  turfed us all off the boat to visit an impressive pub in an ex-cinema while he found an, um, unconventional mooring place which involved two different routes back to the boat: one for the front and the other for the back. Not a long-term problem as we soon set off to drive into the night to make up time. I gather our overnight mooring was even less conventional but I was in my bunk by the time that happened.