Narrowboats, Locks and Ducklings Don't Mix

Yet another warm sunny day ... already this summer has been lots better than last year.

We left last night's mooring at 10.30 am - can't rush these things!



Under a nice bridge and into the first lock of the day, Horton Lock ...

The Whipsnade Chalk Lion, it was a very hazy day so I thought it wasn't too bad a shot on the new camera ...
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Not sure which lock it was, but there were a couple of boats waiting to come down ... they had let a couple of boats out and were holding the gates open up for us.  Just as I was entering the lock one of the ladies said,  'watch out there a couple of duckings between your boat and the side of the lock.'  I looked down the side ... they were seconds from being squashed, so a good hit on the bow thruster allowed them to come back down the length of the boat.  Mum and the rest of the ducklings were outside the lock going mental - calling to them!  Tragedy averted!

Another good reason to have a bow thruster, it saves lives.

Here is Bombo telling them off ...

There they go ...

Elaine had a bit of a steer ...

Bombo was looking ahead for any approaching boats!

The Llama is a quadruped......Llamas are dangerous...

If you see one where people are swimming shout ...'Watch out there are Llamas'

This boat had over-engineered aerial support - it was held up with scaffolding poles ... I don't think it was Waiouru?

One swing bridge today, which Elaine said was very hard to open and close ...

I dont think OHS would approve of the stance ...

Check out those gluts ...

El here ... he is a cheeky bugger - forgive the pun!  That swing bridge was soooo hard to get going - it needed pure push / pull power !


It was a hard day for the doggies in the heat ...

Answers on a postcard please?

no idea what this is

Another love rock left on a lock - guerilla rocks !

Now I know that widebeams very rarely move, but this is ridiculous ... this one had been reclaimed by the forest!

Very, very nice canalside cottage ...

Elaine and her lock wheeling buddy ...

Nice bit of vegetation ...

After fifteen locks we cruised through Tring Summit ...



Elaine crashed on the cockpit floor after all the locks on a HOT day.  Sammie, who had been sleeping inside the cabin most of the day, sprang into action, licking Elaine to death!  Bombo had been awake all day and accompanied Elaine on all the locks, so he was buggered ...

Let me steer.... 

You cant reach the tiller short arse! 

Oh I do enjoy having fun with the blog...talking animals!!

All in all a very enjoyable day.  We never thought the scenery would be so stunning down south ... we thought we had left it all up north.