On the Great Union Canal travelling on a narrow boat with Ray & Esme Lloyd of Balmain. A "narrow boat" not a "long boat" as a long boat is what the Viking used to invade Britain with. We arrived at Berkemsted by train, picked up some wine at Waitrose (a smart supermarket) which was located on the canal bank metres from where the boat was waiting for us. It was great to catch up with some friends from Birchgrove! We moved off quite quickly from the supermarket ie about 4 knots, in the next six hours we went through 17 locks, 5 to 10 minutes a lock. We got better as we went, more hands the better - locks can be negotiated by one with a lot of skill but 3 or 4 hands are needed for quick operation - but it's not a race on the canal, until you decide to undertake 17 in an afternoon, it is a relaxed way of life or should be!

People are so friendly and always say hello whether they are on another boat, or on the towpath - fishing, cycling, jogging , camping etc. We cooked on the boat and sat around the slow combustion heater, all boats carry a little pile of logs on the roof. Many have a pair of push bikes on the roof a BBQ etc. Life on the canal is an interesting mix likened to Australia - fixed house boats looking very smart, travelling UK retired couples who have been travelling for years, those giving it a first go, tourists, weekend groups of friends, older retired males like at Era, guys repairing and trading in boats, enthusiasts such as heritage boat people or steam train buffs who still have primitive steam engines and travel around to narrow boat festivals, fringe commercial operators, a few drinking groups and drop outs, and many who have very dilapidated boats covered with all sorts of junk not related to a boat ie car parts, trampolines, vegi gardens, timber storage etc.

We had a wonderful time with Ray & Esme- totally relaxing (apart from open locks every few minutes the first day!!) - loved the countryside, the ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings, swans and cygnets, moorhens & coots with their chicks; loved the birds singing in the morning. It was a really good thing to do with friends and something we would love to do again - any offers???