Old Linslade

Thursday evening at Horton was a bit of a trial – I was just starting to cook the dinner when the boat took on an alarming list to port.  Legging it outside to see what was happening, we discovered a boat in the lock  - the two drunken blokes on it had been trying to fill the lock for ages, with the bottom paddles still up!  It had taken over a foot of water out of the pound and we were sitting on the mud at the edge.  I sorted them out and decided that I’d better hike up to the next lock (one or a pair close together) to let some water down.  Good job I did because they got stuck on the mud!  I a managed to let about 2 locks full down before I became worried at the level in the pound above, but I heard a boat was coming down the 1st lock of the pair so I closed up the paddles and hiked back to the boat.  We were still on the bottom, but by the time that boat had come down, and then the drunks had gone up we were a little more level.  However, we did wonder if we would wake up during the night crumpled at the bottom of our cross-bed!  But all was well, and by the time we got up in the morning the pound was only a few inches down. It was raining so we decided to stay where we were and have a day off.  Rog got the tidying bug and tidied out a couple of cupboards.

On Saturday morning we left Horton and headed for Leighton Buzzard and Tesco.  Just after lunch, full of water and provisions and empty of the other stuff (!) we travelled a little further on and moored at Old Linslade.  Today we went for Sunday lunch in the Globe Inn, and very good it was too.  Might just have to go and sleep it off in a minute.

Marsworth - Horton

A short trip today, only 3 hours, 4 miles, and 8 locks.  We started out in glorious sunshine, a perfect cruising day, but we knew that there was rain coming later. 

Something I forgot to put in yesterdays blog – as we were arriving at Marsworth, we were hailed by a couple - “We read your blog”.  It was a nice surprise as we do this to other people all the time, but it’s not often done to us, we don’t believe our blog is very widely read.  They found it through the Beacon Boats website, they had been there looking for boat builders, but unfortunately Beacon didn’t have a build slot available until late 2012 so they were forced to go elsewhere.  The boat is to be called nb Yew Tew, and should be ready sometime in October.  Really sorry both, but I can’t remember your names (I’m rotten with names!). Good luck with the launch, and I will look forward to reading your blog – you know you can do it!!!

Before we left Marsworth this morning, I spent some more of Rog’s pension – we saw a mobile smithy at ‘The Globe’ at Linslade last year (photo from last year’s August blog – ‘Introducing Nat to Boating’) and I tried to get a couple of his planters made from old gas bottles, but he wasn’t around.  Well this time we struck lucky, he was moored just a few yards along the bank from us, so this morning I trotted along and bought 2.  I have to paint them myself, but I’m happy with that, and they are so heavy they won’t blow over in the wind.

My new planters

Perfect weather, lovely countryside

Proof-positive that BW do grease the lock gear – a man with an oil can, a bucket of grease and a paintbrush, and when I worked the next lock which he had already done, I got covered in lock-grease!

Ivinghoe Beacon

Seabrook Lock Cottage

Rog getting soaked just as we were looking for somewhere to moor!  I disappeared inside - he he

Rog caught a nice carp this afternoon – it gave him a bit of a fight though

Nice rainbow across the other side of the canal

Northchurch - Marsworth

This morning dawned very grey and dismal with cloud so low that it was almost raining.  We set off with another boat and shared the two locks to Cowroast, where we emptied what needed emptying (!) and filled what needed filling. The diesel was a bit pricey at 81p and £1.30, but we needed to top up the tank.  At least they were happy to accept any split, so we did our usual 30/70.

Cowroast Lock – mostly downhill from now on

Cowroast Marina

Thereafter, I had a longish stretch without having to work any locks, as we were on the Tring summit until Marsworth Locks

Tring Cutting

The old BW yard at Bulbourne, now used as a steelworks to produce large steel sculptures for the home and garden

Bulbourne Junction – the start of the Wendover Arm, we did this bit last year

Approaching the middle lock of the Marsworth flight of seven

We are now moored beside Startops Reservoir

Just ahead of fellow blogger Les on nb Valerie – we had a good old chat to catch up as we haven’t seen him since this time last year, moored at Braunston.

Rog did a bit of fishing from inside the pram-hood, caught a good fish on his first cast, but nothing else so he packed up.

May stay here and have a day or two off now as we are making good time.  There may not be a great deal to blog about from now on as we did all this part of the GU last year, but if I can find something different to say and some different photos to take I’ll do a post.

Hemel-Winkwell-Northchurch

Yesterday we made the short trip from Hemel Hempstead to Winkwell, just 3 locks and a swing bridge, but it still took us the best part of a couple of hours!  We shared the locks with a single-hander (the same chap who was ahead of us the day before) so I still did all the work!!  We went for a meal in the Three Horseshoes, but not a good night to choose as they had a Comedy Night later on, but as we didn’t want to stay for it we ate in the bar – we both had Moules Mariniere, but I couldn’t finish mine, and felt very sick during the night – I won’t be risking shell-fish again unless I’ve cooked it myself!  There can’t have been anything wrong with it though as Rog finished off mine and he was fine.
Feeling fine again this morning, we set off towards Berkhamsted, 10 locks, about 5 miles, 4.5 hours.  We shared most of the locks with a lovely couple on nb Indulgence.  It was nice to share with someone who knew what they were doing, and were happy to chat along the way.  They have gone on to moor at Cowroast for the night, but we may catch them up tomorrow.  We got totally soaked in a very short heavy shower just as we were coming into Berkhamsted, but as we had planned to stop for a few bits and pieces at the lovely Waitrose in Berko, it didn’t matter.  I was disappointed that it wasn’t as lovely as it was 10 years ago – the serve-yourself part which used to have beautiful salads, pasta salads and fresh fruit salad had gone – I was reduced to buying some pre-packed fruit salad, but of course you have to put up with what they decide to put in it rather than choosing the fruit yourself – what a shame – I suppose they are all too worried about whether some psycho might add something nasty to it if it is just in open bowls.  The sun came out as we moored, but as soon as we set off again an hour and a half later, the heavens opened yet again!
We are moored for the night now just near Northchurch, a nice quiet spot apart from the occasional train.  We plan to make Marsworth tomorrow, and maybe stay for a day or two.

Berkhamstead Totem Pole

Plaque on Bridge 141, commemorating the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater

Cassiobury Park – Hemel Hempstead

We had another slow day today, only 6.5 miles in 6 hours, and 13 locks.  Again we worked most of the locks alone, trying all morning to catch up with the boat just ahead of us who were leaving all the top gates open (!) which of course made more work for me!  We finally caught them up at lunch time, but then wished we hadn’t.  They were a couple in their seventies, bless them, who seemed to be on another planet, with a daughter who did no work, and her novice boyfriend, who sort of helped, but was then told that it only needed two of us and he should get back on the boat.  After sharing for a few locks, we stopped for water and they went on ahead, sharing with the single-hander who was in front.  We are now moored for the night in Hemel Hempstead, just below Boxmoor Lock, with a fine view of the cricket ground.

The Grove Bridge – very pretty

New development between Kings Langley and Apsley, consisting of houses, apartments, shops and a new Marina - very posh, compared to the old factories that used to be here 10 years ago

Guarding the lock

This evening’s entertainment

A short day tomorrow as we plan only to cruise to Winkwell, where we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary in the Three Horseshoes – one of our favourite canal-side pubs.

Harefield-Cassiobury Park

We had a slow trip today due to almost continuous moored boats, 5.5 hours, 8.5 miles and 10 locks, some of which we shared and some we did alone.  The only thing of note worth blogging about today is that we met Ernie on nb Ten Bob Note, a fellow blogger.  Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera in my pocket, so no photo.  Nice to see you Ernie. 

We are moored by Cassiobury Park, between Iron Bridge Lock and Cassiobury Park Locks.  We originally moored a little below Iron Bridge Lock, but no telly picture there due to trees, so we moved to find a spot a little less overhung.

Our mooring for tonight

On the move again…

Rog’s hospital appointment went as planned on Wednesday, so we spent yesterday stocking up the boat with provisions, and generally getting ready to cruise again.  This morning at 10 o’clock, having paid our dues, we waved good bye to our new friends at Willowtree Marina (we will miss them, especially Jim and Wendy on nb Lily May, Jackie the Marina secretary, and Arthur the manager)  They have been unbelievably kind to us during our stay, and we can’t  recommend them highly enough to anyone who needs a mooring at short notice in the area.

Leaving Willowtree Marina

Mural made from rubbish collected from the canal

Heron on the nest, also sculpted from rubbish collected from the canal

We cruised for just over 4 hours today, travelled 10.4 miles and worked 3 locks – we think that’s enough for Rog’s foot to cope with on the first day – we are moored right opposite Harefield Marina, another of our old haunts – we used to moor nb Teasel here many moons ago.

Harefield Marina