Cruise snooze

Del got up early leaving Al and Thomas still in bed and set off as we had no locks for the first eight miles.. We soon crossed the Great Ouse Aqueduct and then started to border Milton Keynes.

The sun was out but there was a slight northerly wind which put a slight chill to things.. As we passed Wolverton you pass this lovely mural on the wall.. 

We had passed Great Linford and got to Eaglestone (seven miles) before Thomas surfaced..

We spotted these fella's catching up on the daily news, and mum helping them to read it!!!

As we approached Fenny Stratford lock with its unusual swing bridge in the middle we were lucky enough to find it open with a boat waiting for us, and even luckier was that they let us go out leaving the gates open as they were turning round, Touch!
It started to get warmer as we got out to Stoke Hammond lock..

This is always a very pretty lock and well looked after.. As we were going so well we decided to push on to The Soulbury Three Locks and our luck was still running..

We had followed a boat up but the lock keeper had seen us and got the other two locks ready for us so we could just go straight up with ease.. a nice guy too, and a boater..

He had given us a tip off that the hire boats for the week would be coming through here between 3.00pm and 4.00pm so moor up tight as they aren't always told about slowing down for moored boats.. we found a spot and chained up.. 

Well twelve boats passed us, and six were on a mission, two never made the corner in front of us, and two hit the bridge behind us... but one thing they all had in common they were all enjoying themselves on such a pleasant sunny day.. Del got to work on the brasses again this time he did under the mushrooms which don't get done through the winter months..

Al finished the day cooking a lovely Roast Chicken dinner and with Thomas on board there was not much left of it all.. Another long day tomorrow so a early night for us..