I found this picture whilst looking through for something else; taken during craning out for the survey. Tortoise looks tiny, up there.

I'll be out for a trip with an old friend the last weekend of July, but have a few days off after that, so anyone want to continue the journey with me, Sunday 30th-Wed 2nd? Will probably be working our way up the Grand Union, I.'m guessing from the Leighton Buzzard & Milton Keynes area, all easily accessible by train.

I know most of you will need to take time off work to do this, but if that's a possibility, say anyway and I'll try to let you know asap. Won't necessarily choose the first or most obvious people, but will go on flexibility and other factors too...

The rain on the canal this morning was lovely; there was a storm around half six; later on I was sitting out on the bow, repairing the straps on the stern rain cover drinking a big enamel cup of black tea, when it came again.

Earlier a hire boat passed the moorings at seven thirty; they came back an hour and a half later; they said they were going into little venice & back, then down to Brentford. Canal trips with a rushed itinery and places to tick off the list; why bother? I pottered around, installed some drawers, investigated the frankly ropey kitchen sink plumbing (half of which has come home with me), and hopefully have found a solution to why the batteries weren't charging properly. No, not that exciting, but what the hell. I slept in the second convertible berth last night; if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for you. Time passes gently, interspersed with episodes of life; the cat stuck on the opposite bank of the canal late last night, the occupants of the boat next door shreiking at the football. Chats & gossip; people I've never met before know who I am, which is my boat, and ask after the fuel leak. Within reason, I like that. It's what I wanted.