A computer bug!

Didn't 'alf rain last night. The African Queen came past during a particularly heavy burst. Shame the Captain didn't have a cabin to shelter in, you would have thought that would have been a priority on a trip boat!

Goring lock was busy and also self service. Took forever for those descending boats to exit. Pressing wrong buttons again! When it was our turn to ascend, the blue narrowboat went in first, then us alongside and one of the cruisers behind. That large cruiser at the back was determined to also muscle its way in. Caused no end of problems.

Not a lot of room for this boat to get past.

Even these rowers struggled getting past. It's the width of those oars.

We all had to move as far up as possible just so the one muscling in could join us. We were almost touching the lock gate! I'm sure a lock keeper would have made him wait.

 Then leaving the lock the cruisers tore past even though boats were coming toward them. I'm pretty sure they exceeded the 8km hour allowed on the river. The wash that was created....and Cleve lock only half a mile away! What was the rush????

The lock keeper on at Cleve lock only allowed the two cruisers in. Never mind, we can wait but would you believe, we gets up the lock and both cruisers are moored on the water point. Pointless exercise in my opinion, all that rushing about!

We had been tipped off about an owl on the meadow above the Cleve lock. Went sailing past the moorings as we thought it was by the pub Beetle and Ledge. Never mind one to remember next time we are on the Thames.

I was getting low on bait and Ian found that the Marina at Benson had an angling shop. Not being sure where to moor we ascended Benson Lock and asked the lock keeper. A most obliging chap as he allowed us to stay on the payable mooring without charge for an hour.

Benson lock

A fee is applied at this mooring.

 Moving on to Shillingford after purchasing the bait, we were stopped in our tracks by this boat trying to wind. It was right by the 'Le Boat' hire fleet. His turning circle was abysmal because after about the 5th attempt of ramming the far bank he eventually managed to swing the back end round and the sound we heard?  The cracking and tearing of branches and shrubs being dislodged against the side of his hull. His paintwork would have been a right mess!

And this was only part of the debris on the boat.

 A mooring was found on a very high bank.  Ian's long legs meant he could get off and secure the boat. I wanted to take a photo so with great difficulty clambered off. Getting back on was a different matter.  So glad Ian was there to give me a helping hand and guide my foot to the gunwale, a considerable stretch I can tell you, and so glad the boat was well and truly tied and didn't drift out as I'm definitely not supple enough to do the splits!

Oh nearly forgot about that computer bug.....sorry...bit misleading I know, but a bit of poetic licence maybe? tee he.

Now the next lot of photos aren't brilliant but a splashing across the far bank last night made me look to see what it was. A fish, and I think it may be a carp, was leaping out of the water.

And again not a brilliant photo

Another Kite flying overhead but this time clutching something in it's talons.