Causing a flap

The last day of our blacking trip.

About a dozen swans flew overhead in the same direction as us. That's quite a sight. They landed ahead of us, but we kept coming towards them, relentlessly.

Normally, swans swim up to the boat to say hello (or to see if we have any food for them) or they play chicken at the front to see if they can get past.

This group decided to keep ahead of us by flying so far ahead, one or two dropping out each time. This was the last of them.

If you've never seen a swan take off before, you're missing out on a spectacle. It involves running along the surface of the water and a lot of flapping of the wings. Landing involves a similar process, but with the swan trying to slow down.

We're home again now, complete with Mr Perkins. He didn't seem very pleased to see us at first, but now he's back on his throne, where he belongs.