I dont like to complain but... its just too hot!

1.5 miles and 4 locks.

We spent a very hot evening. No shade for the boat so it gradually heated up like a tin can through the day and with no breeze to blow through was like an oven by sundown. Lots of horseflies too and Jo got two nasty bites despite liberal application of jungle spray. One thing did make us laugh (and jump), a particularly bold duck which jumped up into the side doors and onto the front deck.

By the morning it was (briefly) a bit cooler. We stopped to fill with water and then set off, meeting a hire boat full of crew with whom we went through the next few locks. It quickly got hot with clear blue skies.

Red kites flew right overhead.  

The pound after lock 62 was very low.

The next one just as bad. However, this was our mooring spot so we just had to made do. It did get better as the afternoon went on and more water was pumped in. Again, no shade available for H.

Harold's stern unable to get close to the bank in the shallow water. The boats behind and in front clearly moored before the levels went down and were leaning rather dramatically.  

We were moored opposite Crofton Pumping station, where you can look around the old steam engine which pumped the water up to this part of the canal - high up and away from the rivers. We took it in turns to go and look round while the other stayed to try and keep Scooby cool.

Crofton Pumping station.

It looks very peaceful until:

It was about 1pm when we stopped so still early by the time we had finished our sightseeing; but it was too hot to carry on. We stayed put and tried to stay alive. The parasol is a big help but we are dreaming of paddling pools, swimming pools (or even just a bath) and fans....