Flat out

Suddenly it's hot. I don't work the 18 locks this morning because I'm teaching - inside as the sun's too strong to sit people in its direct path for 90 minutes. Then 23 locks this afternoon for which we abandon lessons, having one group resting while the other moves down the locks on foot, winding stiff heavy paddles, heaving gates open and heaving them closed again. Hard sweaty work. All of us welcome our second shower of the day when our lock shift ends.

Our abundant hot shower water has previously cooled the engine but this time most of us mix plenty of precious cold water in with it.

Soon after this picture the umbrella was caught by a breeze, wafted into the canal, filled with water and sank, to join the shopping trolleys and broken bikes that many people think canals exist for.