Summer's here! (for a while)

We woke up to the glorious sunshine that was promised by last night's sunset

By now, most people were just relaxing, but some were still at work

Not wanting to leave such a great location in a hurry, we eventually headed off at 10 to 10, planning to reach Gailey or at least Penkridge.  Progress was slow as there were small queues at most of today's locks, and only two of them were in our favour.  We had a half-hour's countryside stop for lunch, took on water at Penkridge, and eventually tied up below Gailey lock at 6.20.

I've had a lot of opportunity today to indulge one of my favourite pastimes - looking into other people's gardens.  It's fascinating how some embrace totally their canalside location, creating delightful little terraces next to the water, while others seem to want to deny its existence and put up high fences or conifers.

Afloat too, you meet all sorts.  Now, who lives in a boat like this? It's over to you...

12 miles, 11 locks


Wildlife seen:  2 herons, 1 ginger cat on a lead, and a man at the Sow Aqueduct told us he thought he'd seen an otter - but I don't suppose that counts...