Next morning...anchor up and the lock is just two miles ahead...he was ready when we got there!!! Love when they do that....and we like to think we've learned a thing or three about this locking through. We read recently in some silly book about what we should do since we don't really have a mid ship cleat to tie to the floating bollard. The author suggested tying the line to the front, taking two counterclockwise turns around the cleat, and then securing the line to the back of the boat.  That way the line doesn't move, so the boat won't move...and the loop is mid ship so the boat is balanced...also the line comes off the front of the bollard so it doesn't rub on that moldy, slimy lock wall....well, I be!!!! Works pretty darn good...where was that little book four years ago????? We got on slimy line ...for sale.... real cheap!!!!

Captain shot this as I was twirling the boat hook!!! Oh, and singing "another opening of another lock"!!!!