Joe and Paddy had been up the river to Beale on Saturday, but both of them enjoy the boats and the river, so off we all went again for a day in the sun at the Inland Waterways Association’s annual festival. Strolling around in the hot sun and looking at the dry grass, it was hard to tell that we were on the banks of the Thames, and not at a country show somewhere in Australia in summer time.

Magnificently decorated narrow boats and holiday boats on display everywhere. Boats for hire, boats for timeshare, boats to buy… The whole support industry and cottage crafts, everything is here — and all at a price. Love to have one, but they seem to start at £50.000 and work their way up!

The main arena was as dry as a dust-bowl, marching bands played, a motorbike stunt team performed intricate manoeuvres while their sergeant-major-esque leader bellowed through his walrus moustache. Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang was in attendance, if not the original car from the movie, then an almost perfect replica.

As well as the static displays there were demonstrations of the boats in the river, I fell in love with one magnificent vessel — the Daybreak — as it cruised around effortlessly while the commentator expounded at great length on its many features. There was an old working Merryweather steam-engine fire engine, I thought I’d taken a photo of it, but later couldn’t find it. A shame, considering how well maintained it was.

Where?

Henley on Thames(51.5333333,-0.9), Beale