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

Windsong (and Rog) rediscover their cruising legs…

We have been planning to have a little trip out for a week or two now, but the weather has been so rotten, either pouring with rain or blowing a gale, that it wasn’t until today that we managed it!  The weather was perfect and we set out about 10 o’clock to have a few hours cruising.   We only went as far as the junction with the Slough arm, and back, but we thought 3 hours cruising was enough to check that Rog’s foot would ‘stand up’ to it (no pun intended!!)  

Great cruising weather

 

Bulls Bridge Junction

Playing catch-up…

Apologies to our regular readers for the lack of blog updates recently.

Rog went for his Outpatients appointment on August 4th and they seem pleased with the way his toe is healing, although the progress is very slow.  He has to go to the Foot Clinic at the beginning of next month, where they will see him again, also to the podiatrist every week, the first of those appointments is tomorrow.  We asked about what the best thing to do to get it to heal as quickly as possible, and the consultant offered to remove the top of his toe if we liked!  What a choice!!  Need less to say, he said that he would carry on as he was for a while and see how things go.  I think they are going to do another MRI next time to check whether there is any improvement in the infection in the bone, so that will help make up their, and Rog’s, minds.

We have decided to stay here for the next few weeks so as to be in easy reach of Paddington, and then hopefully move on after the Foot Clinic at the beginning of September. The Marina manager has said that we can stay here for as long as we like, till next spring if necessary, but we would rather be nearer to Mum at Northampton for the winter.  To that end we have booked a winter mooring at Blisworth Marina, starting Oct 1st.  If the hospital give Rog the all clear to move on at the beginning of next month, we will be there in plenty of time to get settled before Russ & Nat’s wedding near Lincoln on Nov 5th.  Rog has decided to keep his treatment going at St Mary’s rather than ask for it to be transferred to Northampton as they have been really good there, and Northampton General couldn’t have given a damn about helping his toe to heal after the angioplasty back in February – if he had been given a prolonged course of antibiotics back then, he might not be in the state he is now!

Russ came over and drove us to Mum’s on the Sunday before last, we felt in need of a change of scenery, and also we decided to buy a car so we would at least be mobile while we are here and over the winter (we will store it at Mum’s or Emma’s during our summer cruising).  We have bought a Toyota Yaris, almost identical to the one we sold when we decided that ‘we wouldn’t need a car’ – isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing!!!  We came back to Willowtree today in time for his appointment tomorrow.

Success !!

Having spoken to the Consultant’s secretary on Friday, we were awaiting an email letting us know the new date for Rog’s out patient appointment.  Did we get one?  Well, what do you think?  So Rog phoned again today and it was fairly obvious that nothing had been done.  She said that there was “some confusion” and she would get someone from the vascular team to call back.  We didn’t hold our collective breaths, but, sure enough, we had a call less than an hour later, and one of the Registrars agreed that Aug 18th was much too far away and he would sort it out.  Not long afterwards we had another call, giving him an appointment for next Wednesday, Aug 4th!  That’s more like it!  Rog asked whether they could provide transport (he can’t walk very far at all, certainly not enough to get to the bus stop, get from the bus onto a train, and then walk from Paddington station to the hospital) and they said they could – result!!!  I dread to think what a taxi there from Yeading and back again would have cost, so all’s well that ends well.

Just goes to show that the NHS can get it’s act together when it wants to.

Just checking…

Rog has bought me a new laptop for my birthday, so this is to check that it is set up properly to import my blog postings from Windows Live Writer.

Rog’s toe is improving very slowly, we are still waiting for confirmation of his out-patient appointment.  It has been made, but is not until Aug 18th – almost five weeks after his discharge from hospital.  The consultant wanted to see him 2-3 weeks after, so we are trying to get an earlier appointment. Not sure if I can stick another four and a half weeks in the marina waiting for it!