Solace Day 5.

So the first job of the day was to wind the boat.  This involves (in car terms) a multi point turn in a specially wide part of the canal.  Most boats are too long to fit across the canal without grounding.  The winding hole can be pronounced as in to wind wool or as in the stuff which blows when there is a gale.  I prefer the former but there is an argument that the boaters of old with no engines used the wind as an aid to turning.

Sadly we had seen all we could of the beautiful Ashby canal for this trip, an aim for the future no doubt.  We were in no hurry as we needed only to get back to Streethay by Friday.  As we worked our way down the Atherstone locks Clickychick walked into Atherstone for a few essentials for the food cupboards.

Of the shots I took this female Mallard appealed to me.  She was showing learned behaviour which many of the ducks along the canal display.  As a boat comes past they swim towards it obviously hoping for a hand out.  it is not unusual to see 15 or 20 ducks get up from sitting on the bank and enter the water on seeing a boat approach.