Living in a hallway: The Prodigal Daughter comes to visit

So... What's happened this week?

Thursday we drove to Cambridge to pick up the favourite daughter and our mail from Ian's. We travelled further in the car in one day then we have on the boat in a month!
After the hottest summer in 40 years things have changed, the shorts have gone back in the drawer.

Friday we returned the hire car to Coventry and spent the afternoon shopping and showing Kate the sights. The 181 steps to the top of the bell tower of the cathedral took their toll on the weak girls, so we needed to stop for a pint or two at the Golden Cross, then public transport back to Braunston. We've done the trip a couple of times now and we know what we're doing, no confusion at all.
Saturday, Ian came over for the boat show. What a wacky crew they are! Saturday morning's parade got chaotic, but apparently it's the festivals standard procedure. According to those involved it's all part of the fun.
Sunday was a fairly lazy day, the next leg of our journey is heading south towards London. It was very windy and very busy, so we hung around until the festival started to die down. We did the locks just out of Braunston and through the Braunston tunnel (2kms long with bends). That evening we ran into a couple of boaters at the pub from the David Blagrove Charity Trust who were at the festival. They gave us some great stories and history about the canals, the boats and the people.

This week we've spent cruising along the Grand Union Canal, it's been great to have an extra crew member, makes locking so much easier. It's been pretty good fun except for this morning it was bloody wet and cold! Damn kids, I promised I wasn't going to drive in the rain, but Kate wouldn't be stopped!

We wondering what is reducing the duckling numbers. Today we witnessed a heron snatching one from under its mothers beak.