Aviation Tour - Maps on www.bankleft.com

Foxton 'staircase' of 10 descending locks - Helen closing gate behind us;

While waiting for our final permit to fly to be issued, we made a narrow boat voyage with some truly balanced and inspired Canadians that we met. They have spent the past 5 summers or so exploring the UK inland waterways on their boat, 'On a Whim'. Narrow boat pace turns out to be a properly relaxing way to see both countryside and the lovely canal facing yards of good properties in small towns. The summer seems to be longer and hotter than usual, at least judging by the number of second brood moor hens and ducks. Dov and Rebecca cycle around to explore all the areas that they go to which works well as all you need to do it pull over to the side of the canal, peg the boat down and cycle along.

Helen and Rebecca descending in a lock, Dov and I are working the sluice gates;

Canal passage has right of way over railways and roads - a gent in the 60's took it to the railways with an old act of parliament on his side, forcing them to build new higher bridges over the canals to allow canal boats to navigate, opening up a new era for the inland waterway network. Today, the whole country is open to recreational boating!

I'd better get this shot off and jump back on swiftish;