I was warm and cosy inside my boat, as raindrops hit the roof and echoed. When the rain eased, I immediately opened my door and I felt the cold winds kiss my face. Grabbing my bag, hat and gloves; I wrapped up and stepped off the boat, for an intimate moment with the canals and towpaths.
A new me...?
Must be!
...Recalling my past winters; I've always spent them wishing I was a bear, wanting to hibernate till springtime.
Now, I fulfill my desire to explore the cold outdoors.
As cold as always; Still, something felt different from all the other years.
"Could spending time in nature, during the winter be an antidote for feelings of gloom and despair, during the winter?"
I do have reason to believe my exposure to such vast nature, is what has brought this positive change, and I'm just loving it.
With hardly anyone along the towpaths, and no boats cruising, my intimate moments with the canals and locks are satisfying.
Beautiful canal cottage at the bottom of Hatton Flight Of Locks.
Approaching the locks by foot is a completely different feeling from arriving on the boat. A bit weird actually.
However, without any destination on my agenda, besides the Hatton Flight of Locks, and no one in sight for acres on end, I stopped for a real close and intimate view of the canal locks, as leaky waters flowed.
Water leaking into the chamber while gates are closed
Leaks are due to unleveled gates from locks being so old, built 1930's 
For boats to descend/ascend to the next level, the paddles would be released to let the water in to fill this chamber.
When this chamber is full to the exact level of the canal, only then would the gates be able to release, for the boat to enter.
Now, imagine this chamber to be full of water while the boat waits inside. The lock-assistant (normally me, with my windlass) would then close the gates and paddles, behind the boat.
The skipper would then wait in the boat for the lock-assistant to open paddles on the exiting end of the lock. As the lock-assistant opens the paddles, water would start to empty from the chamber, which would cause the boat to slowly lower to the ground level.
With the water completely drained from the chamber, the lock-assistant would now be able to open the gates, for the skipper to drive the boat through to the canals.
Fascinating, isn't it?
I made my way up the 5th lock of the 21 flight of locks, where I could see the swift movements of trains at a distance.
With it being winter, daylight disappeared fast and the natural sunset lights and reflections illuminated the canals stunningly.
How beautiful the canals are?
Tha atmosphere is lovely and peaceful, and as the glare disappeared, I welcomed the warm evening light that made me feel relaxed.
Tempted to stay, but I made my way back to my boat before nightfall.
...and like climax, down came snow.
The Happy Ending...
