With it being Wimbledon fortnight, an alternative use for tennis balls

We ummed and arred and finally a decision made. Another trek to Aldi for cheap Gin (in readiness for the sloe season and not for any consumption before!) and in view of the weather forecast for the southern part of the country, predicting some very heavy showers and thunderstorms for Thursday we felt it better to set off today and sit it out tomorrow. So a latish start and another opportunity missed when we were told a boat was only just in front of us. And the chap who told us was none other than a fellow Langley Mill Moorer on Nb Oak going the other way. Small world isn't it. Unsurprisingly we never caught up with that boat so apart from the odd lucky time when we met another boat coming up, we had to turn everyone.

Nb Oak

One hairy moment occurred at Home Park lock. Here we had help from a lady lone boater wanting to ascend and as she closed the locked gate, in swam a swan. Always worries me when we have an uninvited guest as visions of lock walls, steel hulls and a squished swan comes to mind.

But this wasn't the actual hairy moment. No, that came when we exited the lock. The lock landing (lone boater's boat on it) and bridge were very close together. Managing to get Ian back on board and heading for the bridge 'ole I spied another boat.

Bit of a boating dance ensued with me going forward and the other boater going back. Then as I came through the bridge a wide beam appeared! Sideways with it's stern heading for the lady boater. And the only way out of this situation was for us to pass each other on the wrong side. So what about that wide beam? Drifting out into the channel with rope dangling from the dolly, hatch wide open so someone must have been home, but no amount of hails would summon him (or her) to us. Hey ho, all we could do was go past. The next boat along will have to try where we failed.

10 locks in this heat were no fun but I wanted bait and so we pressed on to Hunters Bridge and The World of Water garden centre.  Arriving at the centre I was dismayed to discover they had run out of wrigglers! But all was not lost as they are expecting a delivery of maggots tomorrow late afternoon. The first mooring we chose was not that great, too near to a bridge with a blind bend and with those widebeams coming and going felt sure we would cause havoc.

So the next possible mooring was not ideal either but at least it had plenty of depth for us to get in. Then, with Ian banging in the pins, a swarm of flying ants appeared. Not just us having a problem with flying ants. Seems like Wimbledon also have a problem with these insects. So windows and doors shut to stop them coming in and for over 30 minutes we felt like we were being baked alive, FS was that hot. Still, they did eventually stop appearing and with relief, the doors got flung open.

How about that for a pin cover! Jades old ball put to good use. Just hope those doggies walking the towpath leave it alone.

Flying ants emerging.

I did use up the bit of bait I had left. A tiddler was my reward and the only fish caught.

And seen on route,

This boat has been sunk twice. Now has an oil boom to trap any leakage.

Unexpected!

You wouldn't want to run the hull along this gate!  Seen at Home Park lock.

And wildlife today,

Her chicks are in for a good feed. Flying Ants on the menu.

By FS