Lockside: Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge

There are many different types of lock-keeper in France.  At one end of the spectrum we have one who regards it purely and simply as a job; he or she probably doesn’t live in one of the lock-side cottages, and will have to travel up and down a five or six kilometre stretch of waterway tending to the locks under his or her control.  It’s hard work, hot and uncomfortable during the summer months.  At the other end you have the ones who do live in the lock-side cottages, and invest a lot of time and money in pretty well-kept gardens to delight the boaters passing through; they may offer local produce for sale – pates, jams, wines.  They may be closet artists – sculptors, woodworkers, potters.  Along the Canal du Nivernais in central France you might see many such locks; this is just one of them.  In the middle photo the giraffe appears to be spying on our boat waiting in the lock.  🙂

To see other odd-ball photos, visit Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge by clicking the link.  It’s a site dedicated to the weird and wonderful photos that don’t really fit into any category.