Wheelock and the Shower Encounter

Yesterday was designated a slow day to aid recovery from the previous long haul day. We did the last 8 locks to Wheelock (quite a few boats moving up and down making it easier - team work) and found a mooring close to the CaRT facility. All moored up by lunchtime. As you can see below Spot was also knackered after all the previous day's locks.

Spot still exhusted

All the locks around here are deep, usually at least 10 ft and are single twin locks (although one or two of the adjacent pairs were closed for repairs).

10ft lock with no leaks

The photo below gives some idea of the scale of the twin locks.

As soon as we moored at Wheelock we were greeted by an extremely bad tempered swan trying to mug us for food. I walked past the open side hatch and was greeted by a big cob, all fluffed up and hissing and trying to get on board. It had a good go at trying to get at me through the hatch before I beat it back with a towel that came to hand to defend myself. Once it decided it was getting nowhere with me it moved to the stern to have a go at Jan. Bad move: pre-warned, she was ready with the golfing brolly flapping it open and closed at it and it soon buggered of hissing and swearing.  It floated past later with pen and five half-grown cygnets but was rather subdued - obviously under the little lady's thumb/wing.

Wheelock flight twin locks

Later in the afternoon Jan decided to go to the CaRT facilities for a shower. The shower on TM is fine but sometimes it is nice to watch the water run down the plug hole without worrying about how much water is left.  Jan's experience: took BW key but not necessary as door catch didn't lock properly.  Into shower room, undress and switch on shower.  Nothing!! Two dials and press button - pressed, turned, swore, pressed, turned swore - still no water.  Floor wet so someone had magic'd it into action before me.  In desperation, about to get dressed then noticed what I originally thought was an emergency pull-cord.  Well, this was an emergency! so pulled cord and eureka I had water.

Running short on fresh vittles we decided to have a take-away Indian from Shampaan curry house just down the road.  One of the best Indians we have ever had but if you eat there be warned the portion sizes are large.