Stoke Hammond Lock
Globe Inn Linslade
We stopped and took on water at Leighton Buzzard and Maggie did a quick Tesco top-up of our supplies. Ewen arrived finding the new inproved gravel-covered towpaths not to his liking. They were hard on his feet. We managed to provide him with some sustenance - bowl of cereal, coffee etc. and bid him farewell.
The journey through the "Fields" started pleasant enough but got hotter by the hour. Maggie had to fill all but one lock. We spotted a red kite close to Slapton, the first we spotted from the canal. At Pitstone we met up with Carole and Diane from Heelands School, and Diane's parents who live at Marsworth. In a repeat of the Stoke Bruerne trip last week we had tea and cakes, but then followed it up with a trip to the Red Lion at Marsworth for thirst quenching drink.
While we were enjoying the late afternoon sunshine outside the Red Lion, Ewen turned up. He was waiting for a friend who was going to put him up in Tring but before we had time to say hello, a friendly customer had already bought him a beer!
We ate Maggie's delicious chilli back on board and watched the lightning over the Chilterns. Hasn't rained yet.
