Set off Monday afternoon from Iver intending to stop overnight at bulls bridge Tesco. We had been up and about all day after getting home from work at 8 that morning but somehow we seem to have got past the tired stage and were in our second or third wind.

Rather a tad more ice on the Slough Arm than i had expected but it eventualy cleared as we approached packet boat marina and the junction. We turned right onto the main line and chugged the three or so miles to bulls bridge where we stopped alongside tesco and did our 'big' shop. By 9pm we were knocking out the zeds after being awake for just over 29 hours.

Slept for 12 hours inspite of the delivery lorries at tesco trying to wake us and after a hearty big boys breakfast we reversed back upto the junction and headed off up the Paddington Branch. The weather was excellant but only saw a couple of other boats on the move so we had the canal to ourselves apart form the joggers and dog walkers. Highlight of the run for Nora was going over the North Circular Road Aquaduct. Despite all the floating carrier bags and coal bags that we saw we were lucky not to pick anything up on the prop so no visits to the weed hatch which is nice.

Arrived at Little Venice just around four and Nora was very dissopointed at the lack of gondolars and so by half four we had tied up at the far end of paddington basin.There was only one boat on the visitor pontoon and then a third arrived after us.

Steak supper on board then a couple of DVD's later saw us again snooring our heads off beofre 11pm.

Wednesday and i was up and about before 9 but Nora didnt appear till after 11 so I nipped down to paddington Station and got the newspapers then we untied and headed off to have a look at london zoo. Maida vale tunnel, Nora's first ever tunnel was negotiated and we crept round the dark walls of St Johns Wood hearing traffic and sirens but seeing non till we emerged out alongside the pillar'd houses of various ambassadors and along Regents Park.

Its a shame that London Zoo still havent arranged visitor moorings on their side like other canalside attractions have done or we wuldve tied up and paid some of our hard earned into their survival fund in the form of entry tickets so we turned round at cumberland basin and headed off back to paddington basin arriving in time for me to have 40 winks and Nora to catch up on her 'ER' DVD.

That night we treated ourselves to dinner at some pasta place which was very nice and a couple of sherberts in the bar by the BWB boat.

Back on board and a few more sherberts and Nora, for some strange reason kept going on about marriage and that because its a leap year i have to marry her...so that was agreed upon....No date set yet.

Thurday morning and i suddenly wake at 9.30am thinking OMG we have to get back today. Then i tried to stand up and realised i was still squiffy from last night.

Coffee was obtained, also supplies i would need for my lone vigil at the stern inc bottled water and plenty of fag papers and i set off. Nora still snuggled up in bed.

The wind had got up quite strong and was howling along the basin but i managed to turn her and head back towards bulls bridge. By the time we arrived at Alperton the effects of the night before had just about eased off but i was hungry so i tied up outside Sainsburys and attacked their hot food counter coming away with a couple of chicken legs and thighs and an all day breakfast slice...smashing......Nora still in bed.

She finally appeared just before the junction so i was provided with hot coffee and a packet of ready made ciggies as by now my fingers were too cold to be able to roll properly and the wind kept blowing the tobacco out of the paper even before id had a chance to attempt rolling.

3 short miles back to the slough arm and then the rain came so I decked myself out in my Drisabone coat and hat and was described by Nora as looking like the murderer out of a film called 'i know what you did last summer' Never seen it, and i guess i never will.

Finally managed to get Lady Elgar back alongside but had a few probs with moving Herbie, Our Neighbour boat, as the wind kept pushing her back while Nora was trying to push her out so we could slip inside of her.

All in all another excellant trip. well worth the visit and a couple of nights at paddington.

a couple of pics

North Circular Aquaduct

Somewhere near Alperton i think

Maida Hill Tunnel

Cumberland Basin

Entrance to London Zoo by Waterbus

Snowdens Aviary

Yours truly

Leaving Regents Park into St Johns Wood

Paddington Basin by night