The Nauticus Canal Cruiser

We had a run out in Riverdance this weekend. Instead of turning right out of the marina towards the River we turned left towards Ripon Town Centre, a journey hardly ever done by people who moor in the Ripon area, the reason being two locks within half a mile, one of which (Rhodesfield) takes about 20 minutes to fill. After the final lock, the canal terminates in Ripon Basin, a total distance from the marina of aprox one mile and a bit.
The Leaf Pudding bit is the canal itself, it is absolutely full of fallen leaves, this combined with dying back weed, stopped the boat on four separate occasions.
Obviously you first think that you

You often dont have to go in reverse, at Ownerships it is a well known phenomenon told to new sharers.
You lose propulsion , stop and investigate weedhatch to find "Nothing".

The answer is "Leaves" they get attracted by the prop and stick, but when you stop they fall off.

That being said however I always do a quick astern to throw them off.