Good start at 6.45 a.m., then stopped at 8.00 at B 153 for water. Discovered the very good general stores by the bridge, so we all visited it in turn and eventually proceeded on an hour later.

We arrived at Claydon locks to find them quiet but a light rain had started. However I lock wheeled with the children while Angela steered, O.K. apart from a ‘helper’ shooting open both top paddles as soon as I shut the gates, crashing us into the top gate again, and the boat in front broke down in the top lock and had to be pulled out.

After the locks the rain became heavier, so realising this was a holiday and we had no rush to be anywhere we moored up from 12.00 till 2.00 near B 142 for a lengthy lunch. When we started off I was in full wet gear and the canal seemed totally deserted, but the rain soon eased and completely disappeared before we finally moored up for the night after B 122 at 5.00 p.m.

That evening we went for a walk, as first back I let the dog out who promptly jumped out the wrong side straight into the canal! A nice quiet mooring except for the Screech Owl which landed on the roof of the boat and proceeded to call out till I got up and told him to scat!

Miles 14 Locks 12 Time 8.25 hours.