Douglas Diary Spring Holidays
Day 9 Hatton 21 Flight
This has been a very pleasant stay in Warwick though I have to say my pets were unimpressed with the shopping facilities but the bonus is I had some long walks whilst my bearded one searched in vain for a birthday gift (coming up) for my long haired one. The charity shops abounded, surely he could have found something!
The Canal Centre of Saltisford we can highly recommend. It is pleasant and welcoming and very secure as we discovered to our cost on our return at 17:00 from our exploration of Warwick. We were quite firmly locked out, an over zealous employee had apparently locked all the three entrance gates at least an hour before the advertised 18:00. My bearded one had not taken his bwb key. (All long kennel owners should have one at all times).
It was just past 10:00 when breakfast, walkies and all the domestic chores were completed and we slipped away from Saltisford hoping that we would join another long kennel to accompany us up the flight to share the burden. No such appeared and so we started alone.
As usual the Command structure is: me helping my long haired one with the gate opening and paddle winding while my bearded one skilfully stands on the poop deck commanding the operation.
To see my long haired one struggling with the heavy paddle gear and heavy gates over the almost four hours of our ascent with only me assisting worked a treat – not once but many times. Amongst the many passers by were some gallant strong and handsome volunteer helpers. See my photo today. A very nice kind Scotsman called Robert Aitken was her first, and I am happy to say, not her last.
The total climb achieved without incident was 150 feet, the distance travelled was 2 miles and it took three hours and fifty minutes over 21 Lock chambers. Then we stopped for a cup of tea and I got the biscuit and some roast beef.
Love Douglas
Douglas, you are to be congratulated on a successful ascent/descent (big words – that means going up or down) of your lock system. To achieve this without oposable thumbs is quite something. You should be very proud.
We are fine. I met a giant Burnese Mountain dog yesterday and put him in his place by hanging off an appendage that was around head height for me and around the nether regions of the Burnese.
It’s hot and sunny in my house/garden today so I am taking things easy – as you know, I find it very difficult to regulate my temperature so I will be mostly sleeping in the shade today
love Max x
You must be careful Max of what you fancy especially if it belongs to a rather large stranger . I had to send a youngster from your tribe packing the other day because he approached me and without invitation was being quite rude. You know I am not that sort and unless we have been introduced – or at least had lunch. You know what I mean?