7.00 Moved off, very wet after the heavy rain of 6.00 a.m., but nothing now. Passed 'Newdigate' moored up for the night just above lock 28.

8.30 Asked to hold below lock 26 by a BWB man as they had literally lost a paddle on lock 25. Reported at 9.30 p.m. last night but too dangerous to work in the dark. I then told boats behind us to wait.

9.00 Moved on as lock repaired temporarily. Paddle just covered over, so only one top paddle. Also damage to the bottom gate so the lock was leaking very heavily. As we went up it the area engineer was examining the damage to arrange repairs.

10.15 Stopped at Lapworth on the water point above Lock 22 to fill up with water. As we waited a BWB work boat was punted over to take the next lock down. It was manned by one of the men I had seen on the lock repairs he said he was taking it down to get ready to repair. In the yard all was activity as they collected the kit to take down to use on the lock. The family walked on to explore and visit the canal shop.

10.45 Carried on up the locks.

12.15 Stopped for lunch and a break in the long pound between locks 15 and 14.

1.30 Set off up the remaining locks. Did the first 8 in 1 hour! All the family helping. Fine apart from one flurry of rain. Carried on, the at lock 5 a sudden downpour forced the family inside while I completed the flight. Stopped for 15 minutes for pump out at Swallow Cruisers to be reminded it is the current base for 3 Ownership Boats. Angela stung by a bee!

5.45 Moored for the night opposite Earlswood Motor Club Soon after mooring we had a torrential downpour complete with thunder. So I experimented with lighting the fire and cooked us all inside a very hot boat.