Light rain on and off all morning. Coming to our first lock we arrived in time to see a Canaltime just leaving. By the next lock, Beeston Iron Lock, there was another boat just about to enter and they waited for us. Pat had walked up and pointed out the large red notices advising single boat passage. I'm not sure whether this restriction, due apparently to ridges in the iron lock walls, would apply to boats going up or not, but better safe than sorry. We followed this boat until the staircase lock where they had arranged to wait for us. A happy bunch of Carlisle Bus Drivers on a jolly. We got chatting and they mentioned a new cheese shop some way up ahead which we would have been interested in. However our planned mooring occurred first and we stopped. Something to look out for in the morning.
Beeston Iron Lock is interesting for another reason. Pat recalled the comments of a single handed boater who was coping OK coming the other way until he found that the Iron Lock has no lock ladder. As there is a bottom Lock Bridge, roping a boat out can be tricky, as he found.
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