The need to give accurate information

Ian saw them first, 2 paramedics kitted out in their PPE and 2 policemen walking along the towpath. Oh dear, hope it wasn't anything serious we thought. It was still quite early, in fact around 7.30 am and we were about to fire the old girl into life and get going. Off they walked past us and along the moorings into the distance when I looked back they had stopped right by the very end boat.

Thinking no more of it we set toward the lock.  Ian had just opened the swingbridge when back they came. Ian was about to close the bridge again to let them cross but no, they continued past the lock and up the other way. Hmmm, this was getting strange. By the time we pulled onto the service point, they were back. Turns out whoever had made the call couldn't pinpoint their mooring and with nothing more to go on then 'somewhere past Fenny lock', had to abandon the search. Just goes to show how vigilant one should be on knowing one's precise mooring location!

Lock gates open but swingbridge still across

Ambulance by the pub

 It was very slow going today. Only managed roughly 2 miles in 1 hour because lots and lots of moored boats and then, just as we thought we were clear to get a wiggle on, another moored boat would come into view. We have also noticed the increase of wide beams and it can only get worse the nearer to Brentford we get.

Stoke Hammond was the second lock of the day, gates open to welcome us in.

 At the bottom lock of the Soulbury 3, a Wyvern boat was already on its way up. We sort of hoped they would wait in the second lock but no, they kept on going. By the time we had ascended the first lock, another boat had turned up at the bottom. So always the good citizen we waited in the middle lock to pair up.

 That pound between the middle and last lock was way down and still more boats were arriving to ascend drawing water from that pound. Volunteers were on this flight and a great help they were too in helping us through and trying to sort out the levels.

Roughly 2 miles cruise between the top lock of Soulbury 3 and Leighton lock and, because the water was constantly being drawn to top up the pounds at the Soulbury flight, I could tell by the way FS handled that 'not a lot of water' was under her hull. I fought the tiller nearly all the way, created wash occasionally at 1000 rpm including some of the bridges 'oles.  By the time we had ascended Leighton lock, it was lunchtime and so very hot so we called a halt. Didn't fancy cruising in the noonday sun and you know that saying...only Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, well we didn't fancy either going mad or being burnt to a crisp.

We can just about see the Wyvern hire fleet from our mooring and Friday being change over day, from 2 pm onwards boat after boat headed for the lock. Shame the staff couldn't coordinate the leaving times. One at a time in the lock rather than two, what a waste of water!

And seen on route

And today's wildlife seen on the cruise and on my walk