Three man in the Boat (Chapter 18, part 2)

Chapter 18 of Three Men in a Boat follows J., George, Harris, and Montmorency as they continue along the Thames from Streatley toward Culham. J. praises the beautiful flower-filled locks and recalls a comic incident when he and George posed for a photographer while their boat became dangerously caught in a lock. The journey passes Wallingford, Dorchester, and Abingdon, places connected with English history and riverside life. Jerome mixes travel description with amusing stories about accidents, difficult water, and human foolishness. The chapter ends by observing how fresh river air makes travellers increasingly hungry, sleepy, relaxed, and unwilling to work.