Our first real trip of the year starts here. We have an incentive to start early - the promise of breakfast at Cowley Lock Cafe. So we got to the boat at about 7:00. Our daughter Chloe is with us with her West Highland Terrier, 'Alfie'. This little miscreant is only 7 months old and it is his first boating experience. He came kitted out with life jacket! He seems to take to the boat OK rushing up and down the gangway. Setting off at a leisurely pace, we are joined at Denham Deep Lock and have company to Cowley. There we moor up and take the MegaBreakfast deal alfresco in the warm sunshine. Well worth the stop. There are too many boats about! No nice easy moorings today. Sharing Cowley Lock with Taget, also from Harefield, we go first and all's well until just before West Drayton bridge there is a plop from behind. "Alfie" has fallen in and is swimming round in circles wondering what to do. Of course, he cannot get out unaided, but as we reverse to grab him a helpful dog walker comes to his rescue. He is grateful for his rescue and is now more cautious. Stopping at Bulls Bridge for the inevitable shopping there is an opportunity to take water, if only we could get to the water point. A helpful boater invites us to moor alongside and offers the use of his hose. Thank you "Blue Goose". Then the long lock free cruise to Paddington. The weather is hot, but scattered clouds and a cooling wind (not caused by the speed of our passage) make it very pleasant. Sadly though there are no moorings left there and we are forced to turn back to Little Venice and face a long reverse when we leave. There is no convenient winding point back the way we have come.
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