Ekington looked like a lovely peaceful spot as the sun set but it turned out to be quite a noisy morning. The crows woke us up at about 5:30 and it became very difficult to get back to sleep as the traffic started crossing the bridge.

Another boat had quietly moored behind us and as we were about to set off at 7:15 its crew appeared and said they were planning to do the locks with us. There was only one but as they went first and had six people on board they opened the lock so we only had to drive in and then suggested we left first. Another free ride for us!


It was a very pleasant voyage down to Tewkesbury where we managed to overshoot the first moorings. After a chat with the lock keeper Chris we decided to reverse to the moorings before the lock and achieved this with relative ease. It was somewhat challenging as one boat was exiting the lock, one was going in and one was manoeuvring for the water point. As we were so close we topped Oliver’s water to the brim.

Chris asked after Sarah and then told us that someone had reported finding Peter’s camera and saying they would take it to a police station when they could find one.
We had a stroll around the town looking for the Old Baptist Chapel, with its immersion pool. The first door we tried turned out to be someone’s sitting room occupied by two ladies. We don’t know who was surprised the most. They put us on the right track but also told us it was closed. In fact most things were closed; the abbey for a memorial service, the museum for a school outing, Prezzo, Ye Olde Black Bear (Gloucestershire’s oldest pub) and most of the restaurants. We ended up having a very cheap lunch at The Bell.




Peter cycled to a nearby garden centre to get some bigger pots for his chillies and much more sensibly bought two magnums, which he put in bubble wrap, before rushing back to Oliver.
Did the bubble wrap keep both magnums cold enough to drink between the two of you?!