Dragged on another bloody hike.

The next day was hot again although looking at this photo it looks cloudy, but it was hot and 50SPF suncream was deployed.

David came up with this walk, he said not too long as it's hot, so down the lane, around the gate, over the steam railway line to where the path goes right through a wheat field.

Someone should have told Theresa May that you are allowed.

Highly scientific method of wheat testing for ripeness, not nearly ready as still marginally green. Years of experience needed here.

The way we had come over two fields, I do love a gateway.

The path led us right past this house's lounge windows... I hope its owned by a Russian, ghastly leylandi trees planted, the owners must be bonkers.

Really a question for David Lewis; Why is the margin cultivated?

So the other day I was saying about footpaths being "Fenced in" here you might be able to see that the brambles have got mission creep and grown across path, the walkers (me) have walked the other side of the electric wired fence to escaped the stinging nettles whilst wearing shorts, the the effect is to steadily lose acreage, not much you may say, but farmers need all the help they can get.

10ft of field lost.

The most beautiful garden we have seen all holiday was this one, in Barton-in-the-Beans.

A modest bungalow, but the garden was packed full of flowers and colour, it was alive with insects and butterflies and this is the way all gardeners should be heading to increase insects numbers which are so critically important to us all, who started me on that rant?  

A truly stunning garden, I would have taken more shots but the owners were at home and the windows were open!

We would have stopped for a drink in the village pub only Barton-in-the-Beans is a dry village owing to being an important centre for the Baptist Church in the area.   

It was a great walk, did I already say it was hot?  But it was interesting with a variety of scenery.

Almost at the canal, there was this car, anyone want it?  I was tempted to take it for a spin.

Look carefully and you'll see the keys in the boot, we never do this, however David has left our car unlocked several times.

 

Back on WaL we had cold drinks then untied the ropes and set off further southwards.  This evening cruise was for different reasons but we were getting a tiny bit low on water, it was much cooler now and the canal was quieter now.

Our end of the line mooring, the back end was in the reeds.

This was here, we chatted to Mr Wolfe, very nice chap.

The maize is coming up well, but not ready until the end of summer.

It was a very relaxing trip back down the canal, the sun had lost its blistering heat.  Only one run in with a boat that drove us into the shallows again, but we're getting used to that by now.

A quick phone call to Mrs Heaseman to just see if there was space for us at bridge 45 and yes there was.  They were out to meet us, Al and Del that is from NB Derwent6 that is;

HERE  pulling Derwent up a bit to get us in. 

 

Last week we had all enjoyed a bottle of Bollinger Champagne gracefully donated by Al, I couldn't match that, at short notice, but I did have a bottle of good cava, chilled and ready, luckily Al had no other prior engagements so I popped the cork.  Cocktails lasted some five hours.... after which I'm glad I didn't have far to walk to WaL and my bed.  I blame Del of course and his generous nature.

 

Now as I look back on that night a few days ago, sat here in the pouring rain with acorns being thwacked down on the roof of WaL I can feel the warmth of the evening suns rays making it the most lovely summer evening and one to remember.

Thank you both

Supper was of the liquid variety, I'll say no more.