Canal Tao #02

Canal Tao #02— The Water Doesn’t Read the Itinerary

The water has dropped again overnight.

We’re used to it here. The pound rises and falls, and for now we’ve been told to stay where we are, so that’s what we’re doing.

But today three large hire boats came through.

All three got stuck.

Almost in exactly the same places.

The bottom of the canal is so close now that their engines churn the mud into the water, turning it pale and cloudy. A little more power gets them moving again, but every lock they pass through takes more water out of the pound, and not enough is coming back in.

After watching the first boat struggle, I started warning the others.

Slow down here. Keep your speed there. Don’t stop. Keep going.

They waved and carried on.

And I couldn’t really blame them.

They’re not foolish. They’re on holiday. They’ve got a boat to return and a route they thought would still be there.

But the canal doesn’t know anything about itineraries.

It doesn’t know when your booking ends.

It doesn’t know how far you intended to travel.

It only knows how much water is in front of you now.

That may be one of the harder lessons of the Tao.

We make plans based on yesterday’s conditions, then become frustrated when today refuses to cooperate.

Sometimes you can push through.

Sometimes you need more momentum.

Sometimes you simply have to stop moving and wait for the water to return.

The way forward is not always the route you planned. It is the route the conditions allow.

Silveness