in a complete state, the day
fixed for the start arrived, and it found us brimming over with cheerful
anticipation of the good time in store for us during the next three weeks,
and in the best of health and spirits.

We were "up betimes in the morning," as quaint old Samuel Pepys has it,
and journeying down to the boat-house at Kew, where we had left our canoe
overnight, soon got afloat and on our way, without mishap or delay of any
kind. What a glorious August day it was! The sun shining brightly in a
cloudless blue sky overhead, the birds singing blithely in the trees upon
the banks, and the water sparkling and lapping beneath our bows; no wonder
we took it all as a good omen for the success of our trip.

Heading up-stream, we soon shot beneath the railway bridge at Kew, and pass
through dirty, straggling old Brentford, entered the Brent, where a short
paddle brought us to the first lock. Getting through in our turn, after a
short delay caused by a string of canal barges coming through to catch the
morning tide, we entered upon the Grand Junction Canal, which extends form
here to Braunston, a distance of some hundred and six miles.

An enjoyable paddle through fairly pretty and diversified scenery brought
us to Hanwell, where we had to negotiate a cluster of five or six locks,
all grouped together within a short distance, for the purpose of carrying
the water over a sharp rise in the ground. We had a brief chat here with
an old bargee, from whom we got some useful advice, not wholly free from
chaff, and proceeded upon our way, arriving about midday at West Drayton,
where an _al fresco_ lunch on the bar was much appreciated. Resuming our
journey after refreshing the inner man, we passed Uxbridge and Harefield,
and so out of Middlesex into Hertfordshire.

The town of Rickmansworth being passed, Watford, about a mile from
the canal, was settled upon as our first stopping place; and evening
approaching, we went ashore to seek our well-earned repose for the night.

Early to bed and early to rise was the programme, so after a light supper
and a brief stroll around the outskirts of the town, we turned into bed and
were not long in seeking the sleep that is said to be the reward of an easy
conscience.

The sun shining through our window in the morning got us out of bed at an
early hour, and we were soon splashing about in the sunlit waters of the
canal. A delightful dip ended, we returned to our quarters for breakfa