Rest of Bedford pics

I loved our short stay at Priory Marina and there are also excellent EA moorings further up

There has been a lot of investment along the embankment and it's a really lovely walk in

Unfortunately the town looks unloved and dejected - I'm not sure why, it's not dirty or anything just sort of deserted. Despite a whole host of charity shops there are still a load of empty units.

and it has some nice buildings - The Swan Hotel circa 1746 and the stop over staging post for The Times and Daily Mail distribution stage coaches (I think that's right, but my memory is rubbish)

Venetian style gondolas on our circuitous walk home

I love these carvings

unfortunately the dogs don't have an artistic eye and just see it as a pee post!

So there we go; Egypt, Venice and Bedford all in the space of 48 hours. The walking is sensational and I could have happily spent a week or two here - however, our fire is still disconnected and the welder needed to re-connect it is in Ely and today has turned very chilly.

Intrepid paddlers

Family out for the day and they certainly picked the right one weather wise

Dainion doing his Ronaldo impersonation before legging it in the kayak

 Chenelle was desperate to have a go but not feeling quite confident enough by herself so we took it in stages

 Look, no hands - she soon started to get her confidence and paddled me

 so we stuck her in on her own and Dainion suggested we push her out whilst holding on

  Notice that it's me doing the holding on up to my naughty bits in cold water - not Dainion

Karl, Andre, Daisy, Baxter and Muttley look on whilst G concentrates on the barbie

and she's off

and feeling quite pleased with herself when she returned

and - at the end of the day - as Sue from NB Indigo Dream would say, it's all about chocolate moisturiser

 Now I seem to remember a certain young man saying he'd bring me chocolate in return for a go on my kayak - not only did he not bring me any but he ate what I had. You owe me big time boy!!!!!!!!!!!!

A full day in Bedford - AND HOOK UP

Trundled into Bedford from Priory Marina along the Embankment

The washing machine and tumble dryer are going like the clappers - I picked up Graham's dressing gown to stuff it in the wash but couldn't lift it. Then I realised Graham was still in it!

The boulevard is quite Parisienne

and the butterfly bridge is lovely

'tother bridge