Rushey Lock

We decided to head on up to Lechlade and having no news from the boatyard, deal with the batteries on our return.   The locks are wuite well spaced out on this section, so it was just 9:00am when we got to the first.  No lock-keeper was evident and the blue "self service" boards were out.   There was a cruiser tagging along behind, single handed, hoping no doubt for a free ride.   Pat got off to deal with the off side and having opened the lock-keeper's side I handled the boat as a single hander using the centre rope to stop it on a bollard and then securing the stern rope and controlling the boat on the bow rope.  This way I can keep both ropes taught. The long caravan park before Bablock Hythe, beautifully kept by the way, appeared deserted with not a soul about just like the set of a sci-fi movie after the aliens have been, even down to an open door blowing in the wind.  It is at Bablock Hythe that the tow path changes sides according to my old Nicholson's and at that point it says "ferry".  The ferry was up on the bank.  At the next lock we caught up with a narrowboat that had shared our moorings the day before and then left after the heavy rain.  So we shared the lock and kept company thereafter.   Approaching Rushey Lock from Tadpole Bridge, the flow was getting very fierce, needing 1800 rpm to make any headway.  An opposite direction boat met us on a corner and the flow took him straight into the outside bank and into a large bush.  The inertia of the boat going downstream in a fast flow has this effect - wanting to carry on in the straight line.   The turn must be anticipated.   The water levels were indeed up, with the layby landing just covered and almost top of the lock sides when we had risen up.   I remembered a nice mooring from my last visit, just round the corner from the lock.  It is even better than I remembered.  The wind has been very strong this morning, unpleasantly so, but here we are sheltered.  Excellent.