Three into one does go

We got to St Neots Lock exactly at 0930, our booked time there, and found EA staff opening the lock for us to go straight in. A good start. At subsequent locks, though, we found other boats in front, but with no great delays.

Steaming towards us on one reach was this, er, steamer.

At lunchtime we stopped just downstream of the old bridge at Huntingdon, the same mooring we used on our way upstream a couple of weeks ago. After a light meal we walked into Huntingdon and found it a pleasant place. Much of the High Street is pedestrianised. The Falcon coaching inn has an inviting presence …

… and an aeroplane seems to have missed the runway.

We called in to Hartford Marina for diesel, not having had any telephone response from Westview Marina where I had originally planned to fill up.

At Houghton Lock we caught up with nb Annie and Walt and waited for a couple of boats to go down. Just before the lock was ready for us to go in another narrowboat arrived, so we shuffled across to the "D" part of the lock and waved them in.

The photo proves that three narrowboats (two at 55' and one at 58') can fit into this lock.

Not much further on we stopped at Hemingford Grey where we tied up on the visitor moorings. While Jan was finishing cooking the tea I walked into the village, which has a good number of interesting old houses.

The church was open so I had a quick look round before returning to the boat. After tea we both walked round the village and the church - still open for a music group rehearsal. Then my cousin Victoria and her husband David met us at the boat before we went to the Cock pub for a drink. It was good to see them again, especially as I'd given them almost zero notice of our impending arrival in their area.

Now the exertions of the festival are beginning to take their toll and I must to bed.