Still dragging the helm I crept slowly through London again watching the commuters commute. Same as Birmingham with Café in one hand and Metro paper in the other. I ties up below St Pancras at 8.40 to do a car shuffle. How things change I got on a bus to Liverpool St and was told to pay at the machine by the bus stop. This I did and the bus sped off! I got a train to Ponders End then took car to Uxbridge and back on tube to Kings Cross. Back on boat just before 12 and within the 4 hours moorings limit. At middle lock Camden the Aussies were skate boarding over the wier. They had a cable across the cut with a donkey engine which pulls the line that the skater is holding. I then had the pleasure of meeting the star of the YouTube video who did 3 weirs down Farmers Bridge. Strong fellow lifted the helm in himself. Thank you. I stopped on the zoo and put a few jubilee clips on the rudder shaft to stop it falling so far if it drops out again. What an overgrown mess the landing stage is. Very Sad.

I went to the first cavalcade in 1984 and I was beaten in the boat handling by Mickey Cull (for the perfect hull call Mickey Cull) . I think I won a tankard and he a bottle of Whisky. I’ve still got the Tankard and we all had the Whisky so I guess I did really win. Tied up at end of Paddington Arm for the weekend. Hope the sun shines where you are. I am planning a swim to check the helm if nobody falls in before. I can see it in the clear water and all in line but I suspect that i have something in the cup even a small pebble can cause such grief.