My Mission of Mercy (Failed!) - 29th August 2020

 Saturday 29th August 2020

Wightwick Bridge 57 to below Bratch locks

3.5 miles, 6 locks

We woke to no rain and a blue sky!  What a relief after the last few days.

Although we had 6 locks to do today, the last three were the Bratch locks - 3 locks with a 6 foot pound in between each and two lock keepers to assist and ensure things are done in the correct order. 

At the other three locks there was plenty of traffic up and down which meant there was help at each one, but not so many boats that there were queues.

Just before Bratch locks there is a very large cricket ground where they were preparing for an afternoon match.

We paused for lunch at the top of Bratch locks and moved off when there were no boats going up or down, so an easy passage for us.

The moorings just round the corner after the Bratch locks are rather nice - good armco and we ended up with them all to ourselves.

Not long after we arrived two men appeared on the opposite bank at the far end of the photo above.  There was a lot of effort put into inflating what we thought might be canoes, but turned out to be two paddle boards.  Off they went never to return, so we assume someone met them somewhere, that, or they are still going!

Monty and I went off for a walk and an explore. We found a footpath off the tow path. It was rather narrow with a lot of nettles and only came out a bit further along just passed the next lock (Bumblehole).  A note for our future reference and anyone else who has a dog - there is a small field just before where the footpath joins the tow path again.  Perfect for a game of ball.

I walked on a bit further before turning round and when I got back to the lock there were three young men there - one of whom was in the water desperately searching for something.  It transpired it was his fishing rod that had gone in and he was really quite distraught.  I gathered he had only just bought it with birthday money (12th August) and he was determined that he was not going home without it.  I returned to the boat to fetch the magnet and went back to see if that might help.  

The lad whose rod it was (this end of the photo above) and the lad at the other end went back to the car as the rod owner's Mum was coming over with a large rake.

This left middle young man and I to continue the search.  Not that I did much apart from ensuring I still had the end of the magnet cord attached to my wrist!

Lots of bits of rusty metal were found, but no fishing rod.   After about 40 minutes we gave up in the hopes that they might have more luck with the rake.  I did impress on the young man who was in the water that if he had flu like symptoms he was to go to the doctor and to tell them that he had been in the canal.  It transpired that the young man left to do the magnet searching knew all about leptospirosis.  He had studied ecology and conservation at college.  He had some 300 hours of voluntary service behind him, but was working making doors in the meantime as it is very hard to get paid work in that sector.  I encouraged him to keep trying as our son was in the same situation some 23 years ago.  After several voluntary jobs in the sector he secured a post as a ranger in Derbyshire, then another and then became and Ecology Consultant.  Ten years ago he and two colleagues set up their own Ecology consultancy business.  They now have a few employees and have worked in many places in the UK and overseas including Mongolia, Africa, Saudi and Europe.  From little acorns.......  

My mission of mercy was a failure, but at least I tried.  Of course while all this was going on it started to rain again, but I knew Chris had been lighting the fire when I left, so I could soon warm up.